Loan moves for Sarr, Souza and Moore
Tottenham Hotspur have offloaded three players on temporary deals as manager Roberto De Zerbi seeks to refine his first-team squad. The moves, confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, see Pape Matar Sarr join Juventus, while Souza and Mikey Moore head to FC Porto and FC Köln respectively.
Sarr, the 23-year-old midfielder, moves to Turin on a season-long loan. The agreement includes a €2 million loan fee and a €28 million buy option. Crucially, this clause contains a conditional obligation: it triggers automatically should Juventus qualify for next season's Champions League or Europa League, provided the Senegal international makes appearances in at least 50% of the club's matches.
Elsewhere, 20-year-old Souza has secured a season-long loan to FC Porto, valid until June 2027. Similarly, teenage prospect Mikey Moore joins FC Köln for the duration of the 2026/27 campaign. Unlike the Sarr deal, Moore’s departure is a straight loan with no purchase option included, indicating Spurs maintain long-term plans for his development.
Squad overhaul under De Zerbi
These departures are part of a deliberate strategy to trim a squad that has seen significant investment this summer. Under De Zerbi, Tottenham have reportedly exceeded £300 million in expenditure, with high-profile midfield arrivals such as Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes effectively limiting the first-team pathways available to Sarr and his departing teammates.
The exodus is expected to continue as the window enters its final hours. Defender Kevin Danso is currently in discussions regarding a potential move to Sunderland. That transfer, however, is contingent upon Tottenham successfully recruiting a replacement to ensure defensive depth remains intact. With the deadline approaching, the club's hierarchy is balancing the need to reduce the wage bill and squad size against the tactical requirement for cover across key positions.
