Tottenham Hotspur have signed French international defender Alice Sombath from OL Lyonnes for a club-record fee. The 22-year-old, who joins as the club’s sixth summer signing, brings extensive experience from the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the French top flight to head coach Martin Ho’s squad.
Record-Breaking Recruitment for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the permanent signing of Alice Sombath, subject to international clearance and work permit, marking a significant financial commitment for the club. While the exact figure remains undisclosed, the deal represents a new club record, surpassing the previous high paid for Signe Gaupset in January, which was reportedly more than £375,000.
The 22-year-old defender arrives from OL Lyonnes, where she developed through the youth systems of Paris FC and Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Lyon in 2020. Her arrival is part of a broader recruitment drive, serving as Spurs’ sixth signing of the summer transfer window. According to the club’s official announcement, this wave of signings—which includes Shekiera Martinez, Kirsty Hanson, Victoria Pelova, Caitlin Dijkstra, and Selma Panengstuen—fulfills the club’s priority recruitment targets. The club noted that getting these deals done early allows for a full pre-season.
Sombath’s Profile and Tactical Fit
Head coach Martin Ho has emphasized that Sombath aligns with the long-term vision of the team, noting that she fits the profile of what we’re building here.
Ho described the defender’s specific attributes, highlighting her competitive nature on the pitch. “Alice is an aggressive defender who is comfortable in possession, competitive in her duels, and has the ambition to keep improving every day. Those characteristics are really important to us, and we’re excited to help her take the next step in her career while strengthening the squad,” Ho said.
Sombath, who can operate as both a center-back or a right-back, brings a decorated resume to North London. Having previously been part of Paris Saint-Germain’s youth set-up since 2017, she signed her first professional contract at Lyon in 2020. She made her senior debut in the Premiere Ligue in August 2021 and went on to feature in 14 games in total that season. Her tenure in France saw her contribute to five consecutive league titles from the 2021/22 campaign through last term. Additionally, she helped the club secure the Coupe de France Feminine twice (2022/23 and 2025/26), the Trophee des Championess in 2022 and 2023, and the Coupe LFFP in 2025/26. Notably, she was on the substitute’s bench when Lyon defeated Barcelona in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Champions League final.
Her international experience includes representing France at every age group from Under-16s to Under-23s. She made her senior international debut in November 2024 in a friendly against Nigeria and was named in the nation’s squad for the UEFA Euro 2025 Finals.
The Competitive Challenge of the WSL
For Sombath, the move to England is driven by the intensity of the Women’s Super League (WSL). I think the league is very competitive, every game is a tough game, and that’s what I’m most excited about,
Sombath said. She added that she observed Tottenham’s performance last season and believes her specific qualities will integrate well into the existing team structure, stating, 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.
While the club improved significantly last season, finishing fifth in the WSL after a disappointing 11th-place finish the preceding season, they remained four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and 19 points behind the league winners, Manchester City. By securing their priority targets early in the summer, the club aims to utilize a full pre-season to integrate new arrivals like Sombath into the squad’s established environment.
This is another important addition as we continue building for the future. We’re bringing in players who are hungry to develop, committed to our way of working and capable of helping us move the Club forward. As Ho
Sources: Theguardian, ESPN.
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