Tottenham Signs France Defender Alice Sombath with Record Deal

Tottenham have gone big. Very big.

Spurs have landed France international Alice Sombath from Lyon for a club-record fee, a deal that underlines just how serious the north London side have become about breaking into the elite of the women’s game.

The fee is officially undisclosed, but it surpasses the sum paid for Norway midfielder Signe Gaupset, believed to be around £375,000 last year. For a club that has been steadily building, this is a clear escalation.

From Lyon’s winning machine to Spurs’ rising project

Sombath arrives at 22 with a CV many players would be proud to own at the end of their careers.

• Five seasons at Lyon.
• 102 appearances.
• Five straight league titles.
• Part of the 2021-22 Women’s Champions League-winning squad.

She has come through a demanding environment, first at Paris FC’s academy, then Paris Saint-Germain’s youth ranks, before Lyon picked her up in 2020. Each step has been a finishing school in its own right, sharpening a defender who can operate both at centre-back and right-back and is comfortable in possession as well as in the tackle.

Her rise has not stopped at club level. Sombath has represented France at every age group from under-16s to the senior side, and she featured in all of France’s matches at Euro 2025, starting three times in the group stage. Big tournaments, big stages, big expectations – she has already lived with that pressure.

Now she swaps a serial winner in Lyon for an ambitious climber in Tottenham.

“Every game is tough” – and that’s the appeal

Sombath’s move is not a step into the unknown; it’s a step into a league she has clearly studied.

“I want to do my best here at Tottenham. I think the league is very competitive, every game is tough and that's what I'm most excited about,” she said after completing the move.

She has watched Spurs’ upward curve. “I saw that Spurs had a very good season last year. My qualities can bring something to the team, even though I know they already have a lot.”

Those lines say plenty. This is not a marquee signing arriving to be indulged. It’s a defender prepared to fight for a place in a squad that has grown in depth and personality over the past 12 months.

A defender built for Ho’s Spurs

Tottenham manager Martin Ho has been meticulous in the type of player he wants. Sombath fits that profile almost perfectly.

“She's a player we've followed closely for some time and one who fits the profile of what we're building here,” Ho said. “She has already shown real maturity in her performances, and we believe she has all the qualities to continue developing into a top player within our environment.

“Alice is an aggressive defender who is comfortable in possession, competitive in her duels, and has the ambition to keep improving every day. This is another important addition as we continue building for the future. We can't wait to get started with Alice and welcome her into the group.”

Aggressive without losing composure. Confident on the ball. Versatile across the back line. Those attributes are exactly what Tottenham have needed as they look to close the gap on the league’s established heavyweights.

Early business, clear intent

This is not a scattergun window. Tottenham have moved with purpose and speed, and Sombath is the headline act of a six-strong intake.

• Shekeira Martinez,
• Kirsty Hanson,
• Victoria Pelova,
• Caitlin Dijkstra
• and Selma Panengstuen

have all arrived alongside the France defender, giving Ho fresh options in almost every department. The work has been done early, leaving pre-season as a period for integration rather than panic.

Tottenham have been “successful in the pursuit of their key targets” is the club line. The reality is stronger: they have gone out, identified players with proven quality and upside, and paid what it takes to get them.

Sombath is the clearest example of that shift. A record fee, a Champions League winner, a France international at 22.

Tottenham used to watch players like this from afar. Now they are building around them.