Tottenham sign Giovani Lo Celso on a permanent deal
After selling Christian Eriksen to Inter Milan, Tottenham have secured Giovani Lo Celso on a permanent deal. The Argentinean signing until 2025.
Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Giovani Lo Celso, who has agreed to joining on a permanent deal, signing a contract that will keep him at the club until 2025. Spurs manager José Mourinho revealed on Saturday the club were poised to convert the 23-year-old's loan arrangement from Real Betis into something permanent, saying the player's form had made it an easy decision to make. The operation was completed for a fee of around 30 million euros although Spurs have already paid half of that as part of the loan agreement with Betis. Paris-Saint Germain will also benefit from the transfer - they owned part of the player's rights and will receive a 20 per cent cut of the fee.
Spurs statement on Lo Celso
The move was completed this afternoon, just as the sale of Christian Eriksen to Inter Milan was officially confirmed. "We are delighted to announce that we have exercised the option to convert the loan of Giovani Lo Celso from Real Betis to a permanent transfer," a statement from Tottenham read. "Gio has signed a contract with the club until 2025. The midfielder has produced impressive performances after establishing himself in the team following a hip injury which restricted his playing time in the early part of his loan."
Lo Celso, decisive in the Cup
A superb individual run from Lo Celso helped to set up Son Heung-min's strike in the 1-1 FA Cup Fourth Round draw against Southampton, a game in which he also had a goal disallowed. After the impressive performance, Mourinho said: "It's not an obligation [to sign him], it's an option, but I think the boy is earning the decision. He's making an easy decision for the club to execute the option. Incredible evolution since I arrived. Barely played a game [before I arrived], I think he played against Red Star Belgrade and with me it was a little bit difficult to come in the first few weeks. But he understood what we wanted. Good learner, good kid and I think by himself he made the decision that the club is going to execute the option. That's normal, he earned it."