Chelsea and Spurs involved in dramatic airport transfer HIJACK

Robin Bairner

Updated: 5 Feb 2025 07:10 CST
3 min read

Ange Postecoglou, Enzo Maresca, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Chelsea made a dramatic play to block a major Tottenham transfer on Deadline Day as they attempted to bolster Enzo Maresca’s squad.

Fittingly, it was Mathys Tel who was at the centre of the drama, with the Bayern Munich attacker so prominent on Deadline Day as clubs scrambled to sign him.

Article continues under the video

Current ETV

Mathys Tel

F (C), M (L)

Tottenham

Mathys Tel

F (C), M (L)

Tottenham

ETV Range

€33.4M - €40.8M

Spurs ultimately won the day but only after a lengthy phone call from Ange Postecoglou. Previously, the 19-year-old Frenchman had turned down the opportunity of moving to the club, with Arsenal and Manchester United interested in him.

Chelsea, though, were also plotting to sign the teenager behind the scenes in a remarkable revelation made by L’Equipe, which states that the Blues tried to pinch the striker away from Tottenham while he was waiting at the airport for his plane to fly him to London.

“At Le Bourget airport on Monday morning, while Tel’s team was waiting for take-off, Chelsea tried their luck again,” the French source details.

© IMAGO - Spurs won the race to sign Mathys Tel from Bayern

Why Tel picked Tottenham before Chelsea

Ultimately, the best efforts of the Stamford Bridge side were not enough to persuade Tel to move to them for the second half of the campaign.

He would have faced a battle with Nicolas Jackson for playing time at Chelsea, and even with the Senegal star out of form, would not be guaranteed playing time in his preferred role.

Tottenham are likelier to give him the opportunity to impress as a No.9, with Postecoglou’s side having struggled to replace Harry Kane since he departed, ironically for Bayern, 18 months ago.

Tel could be the Englishman’s long-term successor at the Allianz Arena, but in the short term he will replace him at Tottenham.

Spurs have a purchase option for the former Rennes youngster, who will have a five-year deal with the Premier League club if they elect to buyout his loan for €55 million plus potentially €5m more in bonuses.