Tottenham sign France defender Sombath from Lyon
Tottenham Hotspur have signed France international defender Alice Sombath from Lyon for an undisclosed fee, believed to be a club record for the Women's Super League side. The 22-year-old's arrival strengthens Spurs' defence as they continue an active summer transfer window, and reflects the growing financial pull of WSL clubs able to attract players from one of European football's most successful sides.
Sombath spent five seasons at Lyon, making 102 appearances and winning five consecutive French league titles as well as the 2021-22 Women's Champions League. She can play at centre-back or right-back, has represented France at every age level up to the senior side, and started three group games at Euro 2025. The move eclipses Tottenham's previous record fee, reportedly around £375,000 for Norway's Signe Gaupset last year, and is the sixth signing of Spurs' window alongside Shekeira Martinez, Kirsty Hanson, Victoria Pelova, Caitlin Dijkstra and Selma Panengstuen.
In short
- Tottenham sign France defender Alice Sombath from Lyon for club-record fee
- Sombath, 22, won five French titles and a Champions League with Lyon
- Sixth summer signing as Spurs build for the new WSL season
Explained simply
Alice Sombath is a 22-year-old French international defender currently with Lyon, one of Europe's most successful women's football clubs. During her five years at Lyon, she made over 100 appearances, won multiple French league titles and competed in the Champions League, Europe's premier club competition. She has represented France at senior level, including at Euro 2025, the European football championship.
The significance of Sombath's transfer lies in its direction and scale. She is moving from Lyon, one of Europe's leading women's football clubs, to Tottenham in England's Women's Super League. The transfer fee is understood to be a record signing for Tottenham's women's team, representing a major investment by the English club in recruitment.
Tottenham has been particularly active in this summer's transfer window, bringing in six new players in total. The club's spending on Sombath, an established international player from a leading European club, reflects a broader trend of increasing financial investment in English women's football.