Tottenham Hotspur Women have pulled off a stunning coup, landing France international defender Alice Sombath in a club-record deal that sends shockwaves through the transfer market! The 22-year-old powerhouse joins from European giants Lyon for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be a whopping new record, eclipsing the £375,000 paid for Norway star Signe Gaupset last year. This is a major statement of intent from Spurs as they continue to fortify their squad and make waves in the Women's Super League.
Sombath has been a cornerstone at Lyon, starring in 102 appearances over five seasons and helping her team secure an incredible five consecutive French Premiere Ligue titles – not to mention that 2021-22 Women's Champions League triumph. She's also broken into the senior France national team, starting three Euro 2025 group stage games and forming a key part of Les Bleues' squad.
Expressing her ambitions, Sombath declared, "I want to make my mark here at Tottenham! I know the league is brutally competitive – every game's a battle – but that's what gets me most excited. Seeing Spurs' progress last season has only strengthened my resolve; I believe my skills will bring a new dimension to the team, even with all they already have." The versatile defender, capable of playing centre-back or right-back, rose through the academies of Paris FC and PSG before joining Lyon in 2020.
Tottenham boss Martin Ho hailed Sombath as a shrewd signing, praising her "real maturity" on the pitch: "She's been one we've monitored closely for ages – she fits our vision perfectly. She's an aggressive defender who's comfortable with the ball at her feet, always up for a duel and hungry to improve every day."
This transfer window has seen Spurs make six signings in quick succession, sending a clear message that they're here to play for the top honours. Sombath joins a talented new-look squad, along with Shekeira Martinez, Kirsty Hanson, Victoria Pelova, Caitlin Dijkstra, and Selma Panengstuen, all integrating seamlessly ahead of their bid to build on last year's success.