Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 loss at home to relegation-battling West Ham United only intensified the uncertainty surrounding Thomas Frank’s future, but it also marked the beginning of Conor Gallagher’s Spurs journey following his January move.
That raised an immediate question: how did the midfielder fare on his debut?
A product of Chelsea’s academy, Gallagher left Stamford Bridge after failing to cement a regular place and joined Atletico Madrid. However, an inconsistent 18-month spell in Spain saw him return to England, with Tottenham offering him a fresh start under Frank.
For the 25-year-old, who has earned 22 England caps since debuting in November 2021, the move also represents a chance to force his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s international thinking. Unfortunately, his first appearance in north London — ending in defeat — was far from ideal.
Gallagher became Spurs’ first signing of the winter window after completing a £35 million switch from Diego Simeone’s Atletico. Despite interest from Aston Villa, he explained his choice clearly: “I wanted to be a Spurs player and thankfully the club felt the same.” Speaking to club media, he added that the move came together quickly and that he was eager to play, praising the supporters and expressing his desire to create special memories. Remaining in London was also believed to have played a key role in his decision.
Straight into the starting XI, Gallagher lined up alongside Archie Gray in central midfield against West Ham. Spurs fell to a dramatic 93rd-minute Callum Wilson winner after Crysencio Summerville had opened the scoring early, only for Cristian Romero to equalise late on.
With Tottenham dominating possession, Gallagher saw plenty of the ball. He registered 70 touches, including nine inside the opposition box, completed all three of his attempted dribbles, played eight passes into the final third and created one chance. However, despite those numbers, he struggled to truly influence the game and often looked short of sharpness — unsurprising given his lack of regular minutes in Spain, where he completed just one full 90-minute match under Simeone.
Having previously made 95 appearances for Chelsea before departing in 2024, Gallagher now faces the challenge of adapting quickly to the Premier League’s higher tempo after time in La Liga. Opportunities to bounce back will come quickly, with Spurs hosting Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League before travelling to Burnley next weekend.
A strong run of performances could yet bring him back into Tuchel’s England plans ahead of the World Cup in North America, though competition remains fierce from players such as Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton. Still, Gallagher will be aiming to close that gap.
Fan reaction to his debut was mixed. While Archie Gray earned widespread praise as Spurs’ standout performer, Gallagher’s display divided opinion. Some supporters felt he was poor and uncomfortable on the ball, while others were more forgiving, noting his lack of training time and the team’s overall struggles.
Several fans criticised the recruitment, questioning his ability to progress play, while others suggested he simply needs time to settle. One supporter summed it up bluntly, saying he looked off the pace and limited, though hoping he could rediscover the form he once showed on loan at Crystal Palace.
