Tottenham have completed the signing of key target Micky van de Ven on a six-year deal from Wolfsburg.
The addition of the left-footed centre-back is a major coup for the club and helps satisfy the demand of new boss Ange Postecoglou to bring in defensive reinforcements.
Spurs have secured the services of Van de Ven on a contract running to 2029 in a deal worth an initial €40m, but with the final fee potentially rising to around €50m in add-ons.
The Netherlands Under-21 international has been tracked by the club all summer and, after weighing up a move for him or Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, Tottenham pressed ahead with their pursuit of the 22-year-old.
Van de Ven started his career with Volendam before leaving his homeland to join Wolfsburg in summer 2021.
An encouraging 2022-23 season, in which Van de Ven featured 36 times for the Bundesliga club, brought him to the attention of several teams across Europe, with Liverpool also reportedly interested.
Spurs won the race for the Dutchman and he was in attendance for Sunday’s pre-season win over Shakhtar Donetsk after an agreement was reached with Wolfsburg over his transfer last week.
Van de Ven completed his medical at the club’s Enfield training base on Monday and is likely to be part of the travelling party to Barcelona for Tuesday’s friendly against the Catalan club.
Postecoglou refused to directly discuss the defender after the 5-1 victory over Shakhtar but has been open about the need for new centre-backs throughout pre-season.
Ben Davies has played the majority of minutes on the left side of the back four system used by the Australian head coach, but Van de Ven’s pace will be a welcome addition to a team that will also use a high defensive line this season.
Spurs retain an interest in former loanee Clement Lenglet and Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo, who only has one year left on his deal.
Tottenham continue to work on incomings but will listen to offers for centre-backs Davinson Sanchez, Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon.
Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya. According to reports a fee of £30million has been agreed for the 27-year-old Spaniard, who is set to be signing a five-year contract.
Raya will provide competition for established number one Aaron Ramsdale and the England international welcomes it.
"Bring it on. Nothing comes easy in football. At the same time you need to move along and adapt as well," Ramsdale told ITV Sport.
"I've done it to other people when I’ve moved clubs so I’m not going to be thinking that it’s never going to happen to me.
"If it happens, it happens and then we’ll fight and we’ll make each other the best version of ourselves because that’s what the manager is telling us as well.
"And I’m sure whoever plays, me or whoever comes in, the goalkeeping union – people laugh at it but it’s a real thing – (means) your individual disappointment will go away.
"You will put the team first and you’ll put that goalkeeper first as well."
Raya’s arrival will also signal the departure of United States goalkeeper Matt Turner to Nottingham Forest in a deal which could be worth up to £10m.
Meanwhile, Celtic's interest in Swedish centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke has been confirmed by Elfsborg manager Stefan Andreasson.
Reports in Sweden previously claimed Celtic had made an offer of around €3.5million for the 23-year-old defender, who has one cap for his country.
Celtic are set to lose another Swedish central defender, Carl Starfelt, who has been linked with a move to Celta Vigo after manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed he was keen to move on.
When asked about Celtic’s interest in his player, Andreasson told Fotbollskanalen: "We have had a dialogue in this case. There is an interest, yes. But we are not in a negotiation.
"Then the club must move from interest to acting powerfully concretely. We are not there right now."
