Mathys Tel insists Tottenham was ‘the best option’ for him after joining the Premier League club on loan from Bayern Munich. Tel, 19, completed a deadline-day move to Spurs after informing Bundesliga leaders Bayern of his desire to leave. Bayern Munich spent more than £20m to sign Tel from French club Rennes in 2022 and the highly-rated forward featured heavily across his first two seasons at the Allianz Arena.

However, France U21 star Tel pushed for a move during the January transfer window after struggling for game-time under Vincent Kompany. Tel reportedly rejected a move to Tottenham last week and was subsequently in talks with Manchester United and Arsenal over a January move. Those talks broke down, however, and Tel then agreed a loan move to Tottenham which includes an option to buy for £45m in the summer.

‘Why I chose Tottenham? It was the best option for me,’ he told the club’s official website. ‘I’m ready to play, I’m here, I’m ready to grow. ‘It was the best option for me and now I’m very happy. I felt the commitment, I spoke with the president, the team manager, the coach and as I said, that was very important for me.’. Tel spoke to Bayern Munich teammates and former Tottenham stars Harry Kane and Eric Dier before agreeing to join Spurs.

‘They said, if you want to work here, you have everything. You can enjoy it,’ said Tel, who made just eight league appearances for Bayern this season. ‘That’s good for me, because it’s a good opportunity to work, to learn every day… that’s what they told me.’. Tel also discussed the possibility of a move to north London with his ‘good friend’ Wilson Odobert, who signed for Spurs last summer.

‘He told me “come, you have to come here”,’ Tel revealed. ‘Wilson, he’s my friend, I’ve played with him with the French team, and he said, “come, this is a great team, you will see”. ‘We are good friends. I come from Paris, him too, and we have a good relationship.’. Tel joins a Tottenham team sitting just 14th in the Premier League despite a much-needed victory over Brentford at the weekend.

He could make his Spurs debut on Thursday night when Ange Postecoglou’s side face Liverpool in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. Asked how it feels to be a Tottenham player, Tel said: ‘It’s a new challenge for me, a new chapter to open. ‘I’m very excited to play with my new team-mates, for the fans, very excited. I’m ready for every game. That’s why I’m here, to bring energy to the team. I’m ready.

‘I know what I have to do for Tottenham, for the team, for the fans. I know what I have to do, and I hope I am going to do it.’. Tel leaves a Bayern Munich team sitting six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and preparing for a Champions League play-off clash with Scottish champions Celtic. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.