Tottenham Hotspur

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Daniel Levy's exit is a notable pivot by Tottenham.

The club's hierarchy reportedly made the decision to focus more on sporting success, which is tinge ironic considering they ended a 17-year wait for silverware a little over three months ago.

But Spurs were essentially 'nearly men' during the Levy era and lifted just two trophies – the League Cup in 2008 and last season's Europa League. They finished second in the Premier League in 2016-17, reached 15 semi-finals and six finals, including the Champions League showpiece in 2019 where they lost to Liverpool.

Levy is a polarising character and was often accused of extreme frugality during his time as executive chairman. The club made a profit in the transfer market between 2010 and 2020, which coincided with their most successful period of Premier League finishes.

In the five years since, he agreed to a net spend of more than £450m in an attempt to keep up with rival teams. However, last season's 17th-place finish could potentially have cost the 63-year-old his job, regardless of their very recent European success.

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We asked for your views on Daniel Levy stepping down as Tottenham executive chairman.

Here are some more of your comments:

Richard: As a long time season ticket holder, I feel that it's a sad day, and maybe one we will come to regret. Levy has built a stable and sustainable club, which in future will be able to compete with any club in the world. However, some of our younger fans don't care about the future - they want success now, at any cost, even if it means bankrupting the club. That's today's world I'm afraid. But being Tottenham born and bred, I wish to thank him for everything that he has done for the area. Mr Levy, you will always be a local legend.

Niel: Levy came in and recognised that if Tottenham are to compete with the 'big' money clubs Tottenham needed to modernise to remain sustainable and competitive. If you don't get big money sponsors/investors, you need to diversify your income streams. This is what Levy has managed to do. This brings in an income which, once stabilised, can be reinvested in the team. In other words he recognised that Tottenham needed to get the business right before you get the team right.

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Mark: We owe Daniel Levy a vote of thanks. He said that we would have a world class ground and training facilities and he delivered. He has turned us into a team that expects to challenge for major honours. He has been brilliant in the transfer market, buying promising young players, who, should they decide to leave, we make money on. He has increased the club's profile so much that world class players want to play for us. Also, on transfers, he wouldn't let us be bullied by anyone. A true Spurs fan, thank you for all you have done for us.

Will: A sad day for Tottenham Hotspur. History will show Levy's tenure as a success - winners of the Europa League and League Cup, Champions League finalists, Premier League runners up, 18 seasons in Europe, seven of which in the Champions League, legendary players and a fantastic new stadium. All this while keeping us financially secure and stable, unlike previous ownerships of the club. Thanks for the memories, Daniel.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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It is bombshell news and news that has caught the industry on the hop.

But, if you work in the realms of London football in terms of journalism and reporting - many of us would have heard soundings to this effect over the course of the summer.

Having spoken to various people involved in the decision, the Lewis family who own the Tavistock Group who effectively own Tottenham have decided that they want a greater focus on sporting success. So take from that what you will.

They say that element is clear. I wouldn't backtrack on anyone saying it was probably not Daniel Levy's decision.

The other element to that is there is also a feeling at the Tavistock Group that the success on the pitch has not been consistent enough and I have been told that element is part of the decision for Daniel to step down.

The other interesting element of this that isn't in the statement is that this happens with immediate effect so read into that what you will.

Levy's family own 30% of ENIC who are the majority shareholders of Tottenham.

But, my understanding is that he will cease to have any direct involvement with the club with him stepping down as Executive Chairman but the shareholding structure between ENIC and Tavistock does not change.

But, all out indications are that Levy will cease to have any control of the club. Also, from what I understand, this is not necessarily a decision taken by Joe Lewis himself. I think it's a decision taken by younger generations of the club.

So, Vivian and Charlie, who are Joe's children, are involved in the decision and Joe's grandson in-law Nick Beucher is also involved.

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Tottenham made a deadline day inquiry about Crystal Palace's French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28. (Sky Sports), external

Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle are all considering making a move to sign Brighton and Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke, 25, in 2026. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views on Daniel Levy stepping down as Tottenham executive chairman.

Here are some of your comments:

Alex: He's taken a team from perpetual relegation struggles to almost continual European qualification, built an incredible new stadium, enticed a string of top managers and lots of exciting players. We've come close to winning the league and made lots of finals and semis - the trophy haul could so nearly have been much better. But I think that ultimately Daniel Levy will be seen as the great moderniser of the club, and will hopefully get the respect he is due. A well run club, the envy of most of the football world. He can retire accomplished.

Woodilson: Initially feel happy. Many Spurs fans have wanted this for ages. But there's no change of ownership so I am not sure where this leaves us entirely. Fascinated to know if this was planned or whether this is Levy actually realising he made mistakes this summer.

Dan: I must admit I've been a firm 'Levy Out' supporter in recent years because of the poor footballing decisions but I cannot deny that under his leadership the club has really grown from the Alan Sugar era. I loved the old White Hart Lane but the current stadium is incredible and the clearest stand out project from Levy's tenure. I wish him well for the future! Thank you Daniel!

Dave: Thankful. Thankful for all he did on the financial side, making us a strong club. Thankful that he has now stepped down. His 'shrewd negotiations' have cost us a number of signings over the years. People know how to play him.

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Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson says there will be "mixed emotions" over Daniel Levy's exit but that the club's departing executive chairman "always had the best interest of the club at heart".

Levy - who became chairman in 2001 - has stepped down from his position, months after the club ended a 17-year wait for a trophy.

"There's going to be mixed feelings amongst the the fans about Daniel," Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"He's been the front of ENIC for a number of years and has been responsible for how the money's been spent. He's faced his share of criticism but I think when you look at the business side of things, you can't take that away from what he's done.

"The criticism that he will be always be faced with is the investment being used correctly on the pitch. It's a really strange time. I don't know why they've chosen now, a couple of games into a new season. But there's going to be interesting times ahead. The legacy that Daniel leaves, everybody will think about the stadium and the training ground but also the underachievement on the pitch. There will be mixed emotions but he can certainly hold his head up high on the business front.

"He got in 'win now' managers with the like of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho. But the question is did he back those managers with the right players and with the cash? Was it his decision or was it from the ownership of the club?

"Tottenham have spent over the years but maybe not in the right areas at the right times. I think he's looked to give the fans what they wanted with the managers but hoping that they can work miracles with a squad that wasn't capable of winning anything.

"He's always had the best interest of the club at heart. I can't speak highly enough of him."

What's your view on Levy's exit? Tell us

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It is important to not "ignore" what Daniel Levy has done for Tottenham, despite fan "frustrations", says podcaster Flav Bateman.

It was confirmed on Thursday that Levy has stepped down from his role as executive chairman at the club after 24 years.

Spurs have won two trophies under his ownership and consistently played European football.

"It is a difficult question to answer [whether for or against him]," Bateman told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It has been a 25-year relationship and, given the fact that Spurs have progressed and what he has built, this is the important thing to consider - he's been a part of what has been built at Tottenham, which was a club that once languished in mid-table.

"He created in nearly 25 years a club that can now potentially compete on a global scale. The club he bought is not the one we see today.

"While there are many frustrations with Daniel Levy's tenure in more recent years - and I'm one of the detractors of his abilities to run a football club - we can't ignore at this stage what he did do."

Despite the building of a state-of-the-art stadium and the recent European success in the Europa League, the club had a difficult Premier League season in 2024-25 and there were a number of protests aimed at Levy during the campaign.

"There has been general discontent with how he operated in recent years," Bateman added.

"Not necessarily the amount of money he allowed us to spend, but the decisions that were made that didn't allow us to compete with our rivals – which is every team above us in Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool - they all operate in a different way than Daniel Levy would operate.

"It was clear in the past 24 months that football has changed, and the way football club owners operate has changed as well. So I think it's a time where Levy's way of operating – which is sustainable and within your means – is not necessarily one that succeeds."

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Daniel Levy has stepped down after 25 "proud" years at Tottenham Hotspur and says "significant progress" has been made under his leadership.

Levy, appointed Spurs chairman in 2001, said upon leaving his executive chairman role: "I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees.

"We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level. More than that, we have built a community. I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years.

"I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn't always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately."

Newly-appointed non-executive chairman Peter Charrington added: "I would like to thank Daniel and his family for their commitment and loyalty to the Club over so many years.

"This is a new era of leadership for the club, on and off the pitch. I do recognise there has been a lot of change in recent months as we put in place new foundations for the future. We are now fully focused on stability and empowering our talented people across the club, led by Vinai [Venkatesham] and his executive team."

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Daniel Levy has stepped down from his role as executive chairman at Tottenham.

The 63-year-old leaves the role after 24 years, in which time the club have won the 2008 League Cup and the 2025 Europa League, while he also oversaw the building of a new stadium.

In a statement released on Thursday, the club said: "As part of its succession planning, the club has made a number of senior appointments in recent months. Vinai Venkatesham was hired as chief executive officer (CEO), with Thomas Frank as our new men's head coach and Martin Ho as women's head coach.

"Peter Charrington joined the board and will step into the newly created role of non-executive chairman.

"This is all part of the club's ambition to ensure that it is set up to deliver long-term sporting success."

They have also confirmed that there "are no changes to the ownership or shareholder structure of the club".

What do you make of the news?

Is it the right time for Levy to leave?

What will his legacy be?

Get in touch with your views here

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The dust has just about settled on Tottenham Hotspur's transfer window.

In total, the north London club brought in eight players for a total of about £172m based on reported initial fees.

Those incomings were:

• Mohammed Kudus - West Ham

• Xavi Simons - RB Leipzig

• Mathys Tel - Bayern Munich

• Kevin Danso - Lens

• Luka Vuskovic - Hajduk Split

• Kota Takai - Kawasaki Frontale

• Randal Kolo Muani - Paris St-Germain (loan)

• Joao Palhinha - Bayern Munich (loan)

*All permanent unless stated

Heading the other way, Spurs had seven permanent departures. This included the likes of Son Heung-min to Los Angeles FC, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Marseille and Bryan Gil to Girona.

Of all the summer arrivals at Tottenham, who do you think will have the biggest impact?

Rank them here

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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The Baltimore Ravens have unveiled their new $20m (£14.9m) training facility that was inspired by Tottenham Hotspur.

Following a stay at Hotspur Way during the NFL's London Games in October 2023, the Ravens returned to the United States with plans to upgrade their existing centre.

At the time, Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (pictured) said of Hotspur Way: "It's an amazing facility - just being here to see it all is amazing. They definitely take good care of their players here, and the fields [pitches] are pretty sweet!

"I'm a fan."

Known as The Castle, the Ravens' training facility has been developed in five months and includes training pitches, a nutrition and information hub, a hydrotherapy suite with a 50-foot swimming pool and an array of saunas and plunge pools.

The Baltimore Ravens are one of the favourites to make Super LX as the new NFL season begins on Thursday night.

Tottenham could re-open talks with Manchester City over a deal for 30-year-old Netherlands defender Nathan Ake in January. (Caughtoffside, external)

Meanwhile, on deadline day Spurs pipped Juventus to sign France forward Randal Kolo Muani, 26, from Paris St-Germain, after the Italian giants had been working on it for months. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

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Ali Speechly
Fan writer

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If you had told Spurs fans at the beginning of the summer that by September we would have signed the likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus, as well as securing Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha on season-long loans, we would have been very happy.

The issue with 24-hour news cycles, social media, and everyone seemingly being a football transfer expert, is that it can leave you feeling like you have missed out.

If this business was conducted solely behind closed doors and no-one knew anything until the deal was signed, there would have been no upset caused regarding the Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze debacles.

Those two very public failed attempts aside, Spurs have done some shrewd and sensible business in this transfer window.

Thomas Frank has got what - if not exactly who - he wanted: players who want to play for the club and who will fit into his team, not just make up squad numbers for the sake of it.

Crucially, we have got another striker - a position that has needed addressing for quite some time, but even more so now that Dominic Solanke is injured. This area will need looking at again once Muani's loan expires, but, for now, we have a promising option in the France international.

Ideally, I would have liked to see us sign a left winger and another centre-back, as well as sell a few more players, but when you are up against stiff competition in an over-saturated market, you cannot achieve everything in one transfer window.

We might not always get what we want, but I am hopeful these players will prove to be the ones we need - and I still think Frank will be the overall signing of the season.

Transfer window rating: 7/10.

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external

Tottenham remain hopeful of selling midfielder Yves Bissouma to a club in a country where the transfer window has yet to close. (The I - subscription required), external

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Nick Godwin
BBC Radio London reporter

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Dominic Solanke's injury has proved to be an opportunity as well as an annoyance for Thomas Frank. His absence for a yet-to-be-determined period of time forced the club to enter the transfer market just before the window closed to secure Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris St-Germain.

This season promises so much for Spurs with a return to the Champions League and the prospect of a better league finish than last year's dismal showing.

Dining once again at football's top table means all the extra income and prestige associated with the biggest competition. But Tottenham aren't going into it to simply rake in the money – they need to compete.

I've previously suggested on these pages that this year's Spurs should learn a lesson from their Champions League campaign from 14 years ago when they reached the quarter final. That year Rafael van der Vaart brought the sort of expertise and dash required to make a success of a big European campaign.

Kolo Muani's arrival brings the sort of big-game experience that Spurs lack so conspicuously. He's played in the Champions League plenty of times and should have scored late-on at the World Cup Final. Nothing Tottenham do this season will faze him and the whole team can benefit.

If Solanke can shake off the ankle problem and return to compete with Richarlison and Kolo Muani, the Spurs manager will need to accommodate all three this season.

He says having more than two centre-forwards is awkward. He may get used to it.

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

Tottenham's brilliant start under Thomas Frank came to a halt against Bournemouth.

Famed for his ability to implement a great press, Cherries boss Andoni Iraola came up with an interesting tactic that nullified Spurs.

Bournemouth funnelled Spurs down their left, setting up in what looked like an asymmetrical 4-3-1-2 press that did two things.

The first was to ensure Bournemouth had an extra player back to try to defend the direct balls Spurs like to play. If they were to match the hosts' 4-2-4 shape man to man as Manchester City did at times last week, Bournemouth would not have an extra player defensively to help mop up some of those second balls. They instead chose very specific moments to go man to man.

The second thing it did was funnel the ball into players who were less able to execute Frank's instructions. Brennan Johnson struggled receiving direct passes into his feet when Spurs went more direct from Micky van de Ven. His game is predicated on off-the-ball runs into the box to finish off chances, rather than strong hold-up play. By comparison, Mohammed Kudus' press resistance when dropping deep on the right is perfect for executing Frank's tactical plan in build-up.

By forcing Spurs down one side, the clever angled press - aided by the players' body shape, intensity and intelligent swapping of who they were marking when the ball was passed - prevented the home side from showcasing their quality.

Perhaps the introduction of more accomplished passers under pressure - Xavi Simons, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski - as the season progresses will provide Frank's men a passing solution from deep against intelligent pressing.

If they are to go direct, they require better hold-up play from their wide men on the left.

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Bryan Gil has completed a permanent move to Girona, while fellow Tottenham forward Manor Solomon has joined Villarreal on loan.

Gil, 24, arrives at the La Liga club on a five-year contract having spent last season on loan with them.

The Spaniard joined Spurs from Sevilla in 2021 and made 43 appearances, providing two assists.

Israel international Solomon, 26, has been at Tottenham since 2023. He has made six appearances for the club and spent last season on loan at Leeds United in the Championship.

Crystal Palace pulled out of a loan deal for Tottenham forward Manor Solomon, despite a deal sheet allowing them extra time to complete the signing. (Sky Sports), external

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Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

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Randal Kolo Muani is perhaps best known for a chance he missed - the 120th-minute effort for France against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final which was so brilliantly saved by the leg of Emiliano Martinez.

However, the fact he was in that position indicates what sort of player he is and why Tottenham have moved to sign him on loan.

The France striker is two-footed, has a knack of finding space in the area, and at 6ft 1in is good in the air.

He has scored regularly at most places he has played - 10 goals in 22 for Juventus, and 26 in 50 for Frankfurt. He only netted 11 in 54 for Paris St-Germain, but many of those appearances were as a substitute.

Kolo Muani provides a silkier alternative to the more physical style of Richarlison, who started Tottenham's defeat by Bournemouth as the central striker.

And the Frenchman is also capable of playing anywhere across the front-line, ensuring valuable depth for Spurs as they aim to compete at home and in Europe.

Tottenham have completed the signing of Paris St-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani on a season-long loan.

The forward is Spurs' fourth senior signing of the summer, following Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Xavi Simons.

"I'm really happy and very proud to be at such a great club," Kolo Muani told club media. "I can't wait to meet my team-mates, all the fans and to get out on the pitch.

"I know what the coach expects from me. I will fight hard for the shirt, the club and the fans. I will give everything for this team."

After signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in September 2023, the France striker played 54 times for PSG, scoring 11 times and spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus, managing eight goals in 16 Serie A games.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank, said: "Randal is a quality player who has proven himself over a number of years.

"He's a good age, in the prime of his career, has good qualities that will suit both us and the Premier League, and gives us a different option in the final third being able to play out wide and through the middle.

"We are all excited for what Randal can add to the squad, and I'm looking forward to working with him."