Tottenham’s failure is the biggest waste of money since Ndombele

Tottenham HotspurLand deal Tanguy Ndombele Back in the summer of 2019, it was something that sparked great excitement among the fanbase, with the hope that the midfielder could take the club to the next level.

The club hierarchy paid a club record fee of around £62m for his signature, but it quickly became apparent that such a deal would be a huge waste of money.

He made just 91 appearances for the Lilywhites over a five-year period, before being released in the summer of 2024 – leaving on a free transfer to join Ligue 1 side OGC Nice.

While Ndombele was able to provide a moment of magic, they were too far apart, calling into question his behavior and fitness.

However, another big-money addition has also struggled to make himself a fan favorite, once again highlighting the club’s struggles in the transfer market.

Richarlison’s struggles at Tottenham in 2025/26

After costing £50m in the summer of 2022, the Brazilian striker Richarlison He also had high hopes of success at Tottenham, but has been largely a backup option in recent years.

However, arrival Thomas Frank Giving him a new lease of life in north London, the Dane has given him a start in five of their seven league matches during the 2025/26 season.

The 28-year-old scored twice in Day One’s win over Burnley, but has since scored just once, often struggling to make a positive impact in any of the encounters.

His last start came against Bodo Glimt, but he was unable to make the desired impact, registering only ten touches of the ball during his 90-minute performance.

He was then dropped to the bench for the recent win over Leeds United at Elland Road, further highlighting his recent inability to impress under Frank.

Throughout his 101 appearances for the Lilywhites, the Brazilian has only found the back of the net on 23 occasions – a tally far below the standards set by the fan base.

However, despite his lack of success, there is another player currently on the books who looks like an even bigger waste of money, as such a deal is one of the worst in their recent history.

The Tottenham player is the biggest loss since Ndombele

Tottenham supporters have previously expressed concerns about the lack of spending from former chairman Daniel Levy, with the 63-year-old under fire for his lack of ambition.

While the Lilywhites were the most profitable club in the Premier League during his tenure, this achievement was largely due to his lack of spending during his two-decade spell in north London.

He has overseen several high-profile departures from the club during his time, with Harry Kane’s £82m move to Bayern Munich leaving a gaping hole in the final third of the first team.

Twelve months after he walked away from his boyhood team, the management have finally found a replacement for the Englishman, and subsequently his compatriot Dominic Solanke From Bournemouth.

The Lilywhites paid a club record £65m to prize him away from the Cherries in the summer of 2024, with real hope and expectation placed on his shoulders amid the transfer fee.

Last season was his first in north London, but he struggled to make progress, scoring just nine Premier League goals in the 27 appearances he made – and subsequently finding the back of the net every three games.

As a result of its disappointing opening year in D.C., it was rated “sad“By one analyst, but he is given the benefit of the doubt to try and improve his performance in 2025/26.

However, the 28-year-old has once again suffered another injury setback, with an ankle problem preventing him from taking a starting role under Frank.

Solanke made just 31 league minutes in the 2025/26 season, and his fitness issues have also been a concern of late – which has certainly contributed to his lack of impact.

He also earns a small fortune in north London, with the board currently paying him a staggering £140,000-a-week and taking home just under £7.3m in wages last season alone.

When tying his transfer fee and salary together, he currently costs around £8m for every goal he scores in the Premier League, which is a ridiculous sum despite the huge fees constantly being spent within the modern game.

There’s no denying he still has a chance to turn things around in north London, but his injury record and lack of impact are there for all to see at present – with no end in sight yet for the England international.

If he can’t turn things around in the coming months, he could certainly be one of the worst signings in the club’s history, potentially competing with Ndombele for that title in the process.