Arabic version: توتنهام يستهدف المنافسة الأوروبية بعد صفقات بارزة لفريق السيدات

According to BBC News, Tottenham have planned their women’s transfer activity around a 12-month recruitment strategy as they seek to challenge the Women’s Super League’s leading clubs.

Spurs finished fifth in the WSL in Martin Ho’s first season, a marked improvement after they had flirted with relegation the previous year. The club have since broken their transfer record to sign France defender Alice Sombath from Lyon, following their January outlay of about £375,000 on Signe Gaupset.

Tottenham have also added forwards Shekiera Martinez and Kirsty Hanson, defender Caitlin Dijkstra, midfielder Victoria Pelova and goalkeeper Selma Panengstuen. Club sources said their principal January targets were secured and that the same had already been achieved this summer, despite the window remaining open until 3 September.

The approach was intended to complete deals early and give Ho a full pre-season with his squad. Managing director Andy Rogers, who has spent 24 years at Spurs, led the summer business while preparing to step down. The club’s plans for a new women and girls academy facility, however, were blocked in court this week.

Ho has said Tottenham want to compete with the WSL’s best teams and build a squad capable of reaching Europe. Only the league’s top three qualify for the Women’s Champions League, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United having dominated those places. Tottenham must also contend with London City Lionesses and Brighton, while growing their fanbase after an average WSL attendance of 1,734 last season.