Tottenham Hotspur have signed France defender Alice Sombath from Lyonnes for an undisclosed fee that breaks the club's women's transfer record, underlining the growing investment in their women's team. The 22-year-old joins as the sixth summer signing for a squad head coach Martin Ho says is being deliberately shaped, with Sombath's arrival marking the completion of the club's six priority transfer targets ahead of a full pre-season.

Sombath spent six years at the eight-time European champions Lyonnes after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, winning the Champions League, five league titles and two Coupe de France titles during that time. The fee surpasses the previous club record of a reported £375,000-plus paid for Signe Gaupset in January, and follows Tottenham's fifth-place WSL finish last season, an improvement on their 11th-place finish the year before, as they look to close the gap on rivals such as Manchester United and champions Manchester City.