Tottenham Hotspur’s deal to land Tanguy Ndombele back in the summer of 2019 was one that generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase, with the hope that the midfielder could take the club to the next level.
The hierarchy forked out a then club-record fee of around £62m for his signature, but it rapidly transpired that such a deal would be a huge waste of money.
He only featured 91 times 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 outfit OGC Nice.
Whilst Ndombele was capable of producing a moment of magic, they were too far and between, leading to his attitude and fitness being brought into question.
However, one other big-money addition has also struggled to make himself a fan-favourite, which has once again highlighted the club’s struggles within the transfer market.
Richarlison’s struggles at Spurs in 2025/26
After costing £50m back in the summer of 2022, Brazilian forward Richarlison also had high hopes to succeed at Spurs, but he’d largely been a backup option in years gone by.
However, the arrival of Thomas Frank has given him a new lease of life in North London, with the Dane handing him a start in five of the seven league outings during the 2025/26 campaign.
The 28-year-old scored twice in the opening day victory over Burnley, but has since scored just once, often struggling to have a positive impact on any of the encounters.
His latest start came against Bodo Glimt, but he was unable to make the desired effect, only registering ten touches of the ball during his 90-minute performance.
He was subsequently dropped to the bench for the recent victory over Leeds United at Elland Road, further highlighting his inability to impress as of late under Frank.
Throughout his 101 appearances for the Lilywhites, the Brazilian has only managed to find the net on 23 occasions – a tally which has fallen way below the standards set by the fanbase.
However, despite his lack of success, another player currently on the books looks like a bigger waste of money, with such a deal being one of the worst in their recent history.
The Spurs player who’s the biggest waste since Ndombele
Spurs supporters have previously voiced their concerns over the lack of spending from former chairman Daniel Levy, with the 63-year-old often coming under fire for his lack of ambition.
Whilst the Lilywhites were the most profitable club in England’s top-flight during his tenure, such a feat largely came down to his lack of spending during his two-decade spell in North London.
He oversaw numerous high-profile departures from the club during his spell, with Harry Kane’s £82m transfer to Bayern Munich leaving a huge hole in the final third of the first-team squad.
12 months on from his move away from his boyhood side, the hierarchy finally landed their replacement for the Englishman, subsequently landing compatriot Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth.
The Lilywhites paid a club-record £65m to prise him away from the Cherries in the summer of 2024, with real hope and expectations placed upon his shoulders amid the transfer fee.
Last season was his first in North London, but he struggled to hit the ground running, scoring just nine Premier League goals in his 27 appearances – subsequently finding the net every three matches.
As a result of his disappointing opening year in the capital, he was labelled “woeful” by one analyst, but he was given the benefit of the doubt to try and improve his performances in 2025/26.
Games played
27
Goals scored
9
Pass accuracy
71%
Shots on target
0.9
Chances created
0.5
Dribble success
35%
Aerials won
42%
Fouls committed
1.5
However, the 28-year-old has once again suffered another injury setback, with his ankle issue preventing him from making a case for a starting role under Frank.
Solanke has only featured for a total of just 31 league minutes in 2025/26, with his fitness issues also a concern in recent times – 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 £140k-per-week and taking home just shy of £7.3m in wages alone last campaign.
When coupling his transfer fee and wages together, he’s currently costing in the region of £8m per Premier League goal he’s netted – an absurd amount of money despite the huge fees constantly being spent within the modern game.
There’s no denying he still has the chance to turn things around in North London, but his injury record and lack of impact is there for all to see at present – with no end yet in sight for the England international.
If he is unable to transform things in the months ahead, he could certainly be one of the worst signings in the club’s history, potentially competing with Ndombele for that title in the process.