Spurs Women Sign Alice Sombath to Break Transfer Record

Record‑Breaking Deal

Tottenham Hotspur Women have announced their sixth summer signing, a 22‑year‑old French defender named Alice Sombath. The club has broken its own transfer record, surpassing the £375k paid last summer for Signe Gaupset. Although the exact fee was not disclosed, sources confirm it exceeds the previous mark, marking a major investment for the WSL side.

Sombath joins from Olympique Lyon after a season in which she made only 14 starts. She has progressed through every age group for France and earned her first senior cap in 2024, positioning her for a possible spot at next summer’s World Cup.

Alice Sombath: Profile and Playstyle

At 22, Sombath is a composed centre‑back who also thrives at right‑back, offering Spurs the positional flexibility Martin Ho values. She excels at playing out of the back, recycling possession and launching long balls with accurate vision. While not a high‑speed defender, her defensive positioning is solid, drawing comparisons to Kevin Danso rather than the quicker Micky van de Ven. Sombath also holds her own in the air.

Ho described her as an aggressive, possession‑comfortable player eager to improve daily, noting that she already shows the maturity needed to develop into a top‑tier talent in the WSL.

Rest of the Summer Squad

Spurs have completed a busy overhaul, adding several other players to bolster their Championship aspirations:

• Shekiera Martinez – West Ham United
• Caitlin Dijkstra – Wolfsburg (Germany)
• Kirsty Hanson – Aston Villa
• Selma Panengstuen – SK Brann (Norway)
• Victoria Pelova – free transfer

Impact on WSL Ambitions

With Sombath’s arrival, Tottenham aims to strengthen a backline that can compete for a Champions League spot. The club’s continued spending signals a serious push in the league, while the blend of youth, experience, and versatility across the new signings should improve both defensive stability and attacking transition.

The increased budget also reflects a broader strategic shift, moving Spurs away from modest signings toward top‑tier talent, positioning them as a team to watch in the upcoming season.