Tottenham Hotspur have finalized the loaning of Colombian center-back Davinson Sanchez to Galatasaray.
Sanchez, a former Ajax player, bids farewell to North London after six years with Tottenham, where he scored five goals and assisted once in 207 games.
During Antonio Conte’s rule, Sanchez was relegated to the bench, with Eric Dier, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, and Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet favoured in defense.
Last season, the Colombia international made 24 appearances for Spurs, but he was booed by his own fans following a dreadful cameo in a 3-2 home loss to Bournemouth under Cristian Stellini.
With Sanchez’s Spurs contract set to expire in the summer of 2024, his exit was considered as unavoidable, especially with the arrivals of Micky van de Ven and Ashley Phillips to bolster the backline.
Spartak Moscow and Rennes both made bids for Sanchez, but the defender was hesitant to travel to Russia, and Rennes’ late offering of £7.7 million was rejected.
However, the 27-year-old has left the Lilywhites to join Galatasaray, who have signed him to a four-year contract with an option to extend until 2028.
The Turkish giants have revealed that they would pay Tottenham £8.1 million for the centre-back, who will earn £2.7 million each year in Turkey.
Sanchez appeared twice for Spurs in the 2023-24 season, coming off the bench in their Premier League opener against Brentford before missing a penalty as the Lilywhites were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the third round by Fulham.
Tottenham sold two Sanchez and Ndombele to Galatasaray
Spurs stated shortly after Sanchez’s signing that Galatasaray had signed midfield outcast Ndombele on a season-long loan with a £12.8 million buyout option.
The former Lyon man’s record-breaking move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has not worked out for either the club or the player, as he has failed to justify his £53 million price tag during the past four years.
Ndombele has 10 goals and nine assists in 91 appearances for Spurs since signing in 2019. He he has also been loaned back out to former clubs Lyon and Napoli in recent years.
While in Italy, the 26-year-old scored twice in 40 games for Napoli and appeared in 30 Serie A games during their title run, however he only started eight of those games.
Spurs had been anxious to unload Ndombele this summer. If Galatasaray do not sign him permanently, he will return to Tottenham before his contract expires in 2025.
The departures of Sanchez and Ndombele bring Tottenham’s summer departures to nine, joining Harry Kane, Harry Winks, Lucas Moura, Djed Spence, Joe Rodon, Japhet Tanganga, and Sergio Reguilon.
The Lilywhites are also looking to find a buyer for exiled goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who is claimed to have turned down contract offers from Nice and Newcastle United, but clubs in Saudi Arabia may try to recruit him before the transfer market closes on Thursday.
