Yves Bissouma’s time at Tottenham Hotspur is officially over, with the club confirming the Mali international will depart upon the expiry of his contract after four years at the club.
The 29-year-old arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 for £25million but never fully lived up to expectations, with inconsistent performances and off-field issues ultimately bringing his North London chapter to a close. He leaves alongside several Academy players — defenders Pele Arganese-McDermott, Tyrell Ashcroft and Calum Logan, and midfielders Leo Black, Dante Cassanova and Matthew Craig — all departing as free agents.
With Bissouma now gone, Spurs are wasting no time identifying his replacement. Attention has quickly turned to Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, a player well known to head coach Roberto De Zerbi from their time together on the south coast. The Cameroon international has caught the eye of numerous Premier League clubs over the past two seasons, establishing himself as one of the most highly regarded defensive midfielders in the division at just 22 years old.
Former Manchester United scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on June 8th that a reunion between Baleba and De Zerbi could be the ideal fit, with Spurs expected to push ahead with their interest in the coming weeks.
However, the midfield rebuild does not end there. Tottenham must also make a decision on Joao Palhinha, whose loan spell from Bayern Munich produced mixed results. The futures of Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr also remain uncertain, as De Zerbi looks to reshape the squad in his own image ahead of the 2026-27 season.
After a campaign that saw Spurs finish just two points above the relegation zone, a significant overhaul is not just expected — it is necessary.
