Micky van de Ven: Tottenham spending highlights 'new ambition' after 'unacceptable' season

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has praised the club's record spending as a sign of new ambition following two consecutive seasons of poor performance. The team is currently undergoing a transition under new manager Roberto de Zerbi.
Why it matters
The significant financial investment reflects a strategic shift for a major Premier League club attempting to recover from a period of instability and underperformance.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Micky van de Ven joined Spurs from Wolfsburg in 2023
Football reporter in Sydney Published 27 July 2026, 08:00 BST Micky van de Ven says Tottenham 's record spending highlights a "new ambition" after an "unacceptable" season - and backed the team to play "more enjoyable" football under Roberto de Zerbi.
Tottenham have finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back years and only narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of last season.
Under De Zerbi, who was appointed in late March, Spurs have spent a club record £237m this summer.
Defender Van de Ven is in talks over a new contract, having joined Tottenham in 2023 on a six-year deal.
"It's really good that you can see the club has made some changes," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport in Sydney, where the club are on their pre-season tour.
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