João Palhinha has confirmed his time at Tottenham Hotspur is over, after the club opted against triggering the reported £22 million clause to sign him permanently from Bayern Munich.
The Portuguese midfielder spent last season on loan in North London, becoming a key figure as Spurs fought to stay in the Premier League. His composed midfield displays and important contributions — including the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Everton — won him praise from fans and from Roberto De Zerbi, who had publicly credited Palhinha as central to the club’s survival and fuelled hopes the option to buy would be exercised.
Instead, Tottenham have decided to go a different route, and Palhinha marked his exit with an emotional message to supporters on Instagram. He thanked Spurs fans for their constant backing, calling his time in North London an experience he’ll treasure, and said pulling on the shirt left a mark on him both as a player and as a person, adding that he always tried to repay that support through his displays on the pitch.
He also praised the fanbase as the true lifeblood of the club, pointing out that while players, managers and executives come and go, it’s the supporters who sustain a club through the years. Beyond the fans, he thanked his teammates, the board, coaching staff, and the fitness and medical teams, along with others who made his stint in the capital special — closing by saying London had become far more than just a place of work, giving him a second home and memories he’ll hold onto, before signing off with a final “COYS.”
Palhinha’s exit may close one chapter, but Tottenham are already reshaping their midfield. The club has completed an £85 million move for Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, with the Portuguese youngster signing a six-year deal and taking the No. 18 shirt. That rebuild looks set to continue with Sandro Tonali’s imminent arrival from Newcastle, with a reported £100 million fee agreed that would surpass Fernandes’ price tag and become a new club-record transfer.
With Fernandes and Tonali set to anchor De Zerbi’s revamped midfield, Tottenham have prioritised building for the future over keeping Palhinha long-term. Though his stay was short, he leaves North London having earned the fans’ respect and played a crucial part in one of the club’s toughest campaigns.
