Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of English striker Dominic Solanke in a club-record deal from Bournemouth.
The 26-year-old has penned a six-year contract with the Lilywhites until the end of the 2029-30 campaign, and the Cherries are expected to receive an initial £55m plus £10m in add-ons for Solanke's sale.
Bournemouth confirmed in their statement that Solanke is now the most expensive sale in their history, and the £65m man also becomes Spurs' record signing of all time, eclipsing Tanguy Ndombele's £54m switch from Lyon in 2019.
The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker becomes Spurs' third arrival of the summer after Archie Gray and Yang Min-hyuk, and the Reds are also set to receive around £10m as part of the deal thanks to a sell-on clause.
Speaking to the Cherries website, Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake paid tribute to Solanke's professionalism while negotiations rumbled on in the background and revealed that the South Coast club were braced for a European-competing team to come calling for Solanke eventually.
Solanke is Spurs! 🤍 pic.twitter.com/inojhKYlu0
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 10, 2024
Bournemouth chief offers "sincere well wishes" to Solanke
"When we identified Dominic as a target and brought him to the club five years ago, we did so with the understanding that this was always a possibility," Blake said.
"As he began to realise the great potential we knew he had, it quickly became in the club's best interest to protect his value and so we were delighted to agree terms on a new contract last summer.
"After Dominic's performances for us - in particular his impressive 2023/24 season - it has come as no surprise that a team of Tottenham's calibre has shown an interest.
"This move has developed quickly but Dominic has remained professional throughout and I'd like to thank him for that. It's a testament to the character he has always shown while at this club, on and off the pitch.
"His development since arriving in 2019 is a credit to his work rate and endeavour, as well as the platform AFC Bournemouth gives young talent to grow. We're pleased to secure a club record fee for Dominic and he also leaves with everyone's sincere well wishes at AFC Bournemouth."
Solanke steps into Harry Kane's Tottenham shoes
© Imago
Solanke - who was also labelled a "club icon" by the Cherries in their exit announcement - leaves Bournemouth with a record of 77 goals and 31 assists from 216 matches across all competitions, including a terrific 19 Premier League strikes in 2023-24.
Only Cole Palmer, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland netted more goals in last season's English top flight than Solanke, who will be expected to come straight into the Tottenham XI as Ange Postecoglou's new number nine.
Having failed to secure a big-money replacement for Harry Kane last year, only bringing in the young Alejo Veliz and loaning him to Sevilla in the second half of the campaign, Tottenham relied on Richarlison and Son Heung-min as their chief attacking threats last season.
However, Richarlison could now be given the green light to leave the club amid links with Saudi Arabia, while Son is in the last year of his contract, although his terms do include a 12-month extension option.
Solanke is not expected to face Bayern Munich in Sunday's friendly, but he should be in line for his Tottenham debut in their opening Premier League match away to Leicester City on August 19.
Ben Knapton
