Micky van de Ven has declared Tottenham Hotspur's record £237m summer spending spree a sign of "new ambition" after what he called an "unacceptable" season that saw the club narrowly avoid relegation. The defender, speaking in Sydney where Spurs are on a pre-season tour, said the transformation under new manager Roberto de Zerbi is already restoring belief among players who were "a little bit down".
Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League for the second consecutive year, escaping the drop only on the final day of last season. The club lurched through three managers: Thomas Frank was sacked after less than eight months, interim Igor Tudor lasted 44 days, and De Zerbi took over with seven games remaining.
“Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven says club's record £237m summer spending shows new ambition after back-to-back 17th-place finishes.”
"Last season was a stressful season, unacceptable from our side," Van de Ven told BBC Sport. "It's really good that you can see the club has made some changes. You can see the club has a new ambition." The 25-year-old, who is in talks over a new contract, joined Spurs in 2023 on a six-year deal.
The overhaul has been dramatic. Earlier this month, Tottenham broke their transfer record twice in two days, signing midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m. Defender Jan Paul van Hecke arrived from Brighton for £52m, while experienced trio Marcos Senesi, Andrew Robertson and Martin Dubravka joined on free transfers.
Van de Ven believes De Zerbi's attacking philosophy will produce "more enjoyable" football after Frank's "safety-first" approach alienated supporters. "It's going to be different," he said. "More with the ball, more about playing football. He has brought a lot of passion, a lot of energy. It is something we needed."
Spurs, who beat Auckland at Eden Park earlier this week, face Sydney FC in their next friendly on Wednesday. For a club that spent £237m on a squad rebuilding project, the pre-season tour offers the first glimpse of whether that investment can lift them from the depths of the Premier League.