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Tottenham Signs Two Midfielders to Bolster De Zerbi Rebuild

7/11/2026

Summary

Tottenham Sign Midfielders

Tottenham Hotspur signed two midfielders in the summer window as part of head coach Roberto De Zerbi's rebuild.
De Zerbi said the signings fit his new-look team, will help avoid another 17th-place finish, and require improved possession.
He explained baiting the opposition press, drawing out players, then carrying or passing the ball past them.
He said he will focus on building the team, transfers and training at the Enfield complex.

Summary

Tottenham Launches Page

Tottenham announced a dedicated Facebook page for fans to receive club news, analysis and updates.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi said the team must improve build-up play by focusing on the first 70 metres instead of only the final 30 metres.
He added that Sandro Tonali and Paulo Fernandes will anchor midfield to raise possession, with BOYLE Sports statistics supporting the expected increase.

Summary

Palhinha Fuels

Palhinha posted a 61.7 % duel success rate and 7.9 wins, surpassing Tonali (54.9 %) and Fernandes (55.4 %).
Fernandes matched Palhinha’s seven goal involvements while Tonali recorded only two assists in his deeper role.
Their superior ball-retention and rapid passing are projected to become the fulcrum of De Zerbi’s new system.
Analysts defend Tottenham’s £185 million midfield investment by citing Palhinha’s duel dominance as a boost to defensive stability and Fernandes’ threat as attacking depth.

History

Historical Context

In July 2019 Tottenham set a club-record by paying £55 million for midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, a move meant to boost possession under new manager José Mourinho after Mauricio Pochettino’s dismissal. The 2024 summer, manager Ange De Zerbi spent £185 million on Sandro Tonali and Paulo Fernandes, reviving that data-driven, possession-centric strategy. Both periods reflect Spurs’ ongoing shift toward analytics-guided midfield investment.

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Tottenham Sign Midfielders

Tottenham Hotspur signed two midfielders in the summer window as part of head coach Roberto De Zerbi's rebuild.
De Zerbi said the signings fit his new-look team, will help avoid another 17th-place finish, and require improved possession.
He explained baiting the opposition press, drawing out players, then carrying or passing the ball past them.
He said he will focus on building the team, transfers and training at the Enfield complex.

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