Tottenham transfer swoop nearly triggered legal action from Premier League rivals

Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Conor Gallagher is not the first time the club have stepped in to snatch an Atletico Madrid player from another suitor.

Spurs will be hoping this deal proves far smoother than the saga surrounding Toby Alderweireld’s arrival more than a decade ago. Back in 2015, the Belgian centre-back joined Tottenham for £11.5 million after an impressive loan spell at Southampton the previous season.

Alderweireld signed a five-year contract at White Hart Lane, but the transfer was surrounded by controversy. Southampton claimed Atletico Madrid had failed to activate a buy-back clause before the deadline. The Spanish club were reportedly entitled to sell the defender to the highest bidder for £1.5 million, but Saints argued the clause had expired.

As a result, Southampton exercised their agreed option to buy Alderweireld for £6.8 million, following his 28 appearances during the 2014/15 campaign, which saw them finish seventh in the Premier League. The fallout was so tense that Southampton even considered taking the matter to FIFA.

After being unveiled by Spurs, Alderweireld publicly thanked Southampton, praising the club, its fans and the season he spent there. He later acknowledged the frustration felt on the south coast, explaining that Ronald Koeman had played a huge role in his development and confidence.

Ultimately, Southampton executive director Les Reed admitted there was no legal case to pursue, largely because the player himself had chosen to join Tottenham. Reed confirmed that Atletico Madrid had acted professionally throughout, but once Alderweireld made it clear Spurs were his preferred destination, any legal challenge became pointless.

Alderweireld went on to spend six years at Tottenham before leaving in 2021, making 236 appearances and helping the club reach the Champions League final in 2019. He later played for Al Duhail and Royal Antwerp — scoring a memorable title-winning goal — before retiring last summer at the age of 36. Internationally, he earned 127 caps for Belgium over 13 years, scoring five goals and featuring in three World Cups and two European Championships.

Now, Spurs are close to completing another high-profile move, with Gallagher set to join for around £35 million. The 25-year-old England midfielder is expected to undergo a medical after agreeing a five-and-a-half-year contract that would keep him at the club until 2031, following Tottenham’s successful swoop despite strong interest from Aston Villa.