Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven believes the club is entering a new era after a bold summer of transfer business, and says Premier League rivals should expect a very different Spurs side next season.
The North London club has made its intentions clear in the market, spending roughly £237 million on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, while also adding Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers. The outlay follows two rough seasons that saw Spurs finish 17th in the table.
Van de Ven views the spending as a sign of the club’s renewed ambition, saying the new arrivals have lifted spirits across the squad. Speaking on Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Australia ahead of friendlies against Sydney FC and Chelsea, the Dutchman credited Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment and the calibre of the new signings with restoring belief throughout the group. He said the club’s ambition is now unmistakable — something that means a lot to those who stayed through the difficult years — and that wiping the slate clean after last season’s disappointment carries real weight.
The 25-year-old admitted last season was mentally exhausting but argued Tottenham should be competing for Europe every year, calling it the clear target alongside becoming a much tougher side to beat. Their strong summer business could also boost the club’s chances of extending Van de Ven’s own deal, which runs to 2029 but may see extension talks open soon.
Spurs have already made a bright start to pre-season, beating A-League champions Auckland FC 2-0 before flying out to Australia. Van de Ven predicted supporters will see a completely different style under De Zerbi than they did under Igor Tudor or Thomas Frank — one built on possession, control and attacking football.
He praised the immediate lift De Zerbi has given a squad that had been low on confidence, citing the manager’s passion, energy and winning mentality, along with his demand that players dominate the ball and express themselves. While conceding last season fell well short of Tottenham’s standards, Van de Ven insisted the squad is determined to leave it behind and put in the work for a far stronger campaign ahead.
