How Tottenham's transfer window shows big WSL ambitions

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Tottenham Hotspur’s summer recruitment points to a more ambitious push in the Women’s Super League, after Martin Ho’s side followed a fifth-place finish with a series of notable additions. The club’s headline move was the signing of France defender Alice Sombath from Lyon for a club-record fee, surpassing the roughly £375,000 spent on Signe Gaupset in January. Spurs have also brought in Shekiera Martinez, Kirsty Hanson, Caitlin Dijkstra, Victoria Pelova and Selma Panengstuen.

According to the BBC, Tottenham’s recent planning has been structured around targets identified across multiple transfer windows since Ho arrived in July 2025. The report says the club aimed to complete business early so the manager could work with a full squad during pre-season. Managing director Andy Rogers, who is preparing to step down after 24 years at Spurs, has led this summer’s transfer work as part of a planned handover.

The wider goal is to move Tottenham closer to the WSL’s elite and eventually European qualification. That remains difficult: only the top three qualify for the Women’s Champions League, and Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have largely controlled those places. Spurs also face pressure from ambitious rivals including London City Lionesses and Brighton.

BBC Sport frames the spending as part of broader change at Tottenham, including boardroom movement after Daniel Levy’s departure and the arrival of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham from Arsenal. The report also notes that growing the women’s team’s fanbase remains a challenge, with last season’s average WSL attendance listed at 1,734.