Tottenham have confirmed they have taken up the option to extend Toby Alderweireld’s contract until the the summer of 2020.
The Belgian’s deal was set to expire at the end of this season, but he is now contracted until the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
The Club can confirm that we have activated the option to extend @AlderweireldTob’s contract until 2020.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 4, 2019
However, a £25 million release clause has now been activated, which can be triggered up until the final two weeks of next summer’s transfer window.
That means Spurs must accept any offers of £25 million for Alderweireld.
According to ESPN, the club is resigned to losing the 29-year-old, with the possibility of a new long-term deal being signed said to be low.
Alderweireld has made 135 appearances for Tottenham since arriving from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2015.
He has been a regular this season, featuring in 26 matches across all competitions, although doubts over his future re-emerged when he was dropped for the north London derby last month.
Spurs fans have been reacting to Alderweireld’s contract extension on social media with a mix of disappointment, frustration and acceptance.
Check out the best reactions from Twitter below.
Cheers Spurs fans crying
— Pochitivity (@spursy1882) January 4, 2019
Okay but how about a proper contract please ?
— 17 (@SuperiorSissoko) January 4, 2019
Pay the player his worth. £200k pw over 5 yrs is c£50m… that’s what a replacement will cost, unless we trawl the Championship for a bargain. Sort it @SpursOfficial
— Paul (@Paul731) January 4, 2019
Means nothing except we are going to lose him for £25m. Embarrassing
— Trevor Lloyd (@Trevorlloyd92) January 4, 2019
Can’t wait until he leaves us for £25m this summer and we replace him with someone unproven hoping one day they can make it so we can sell them again and so it continues
— TheDeleLlama (@dele_the) January 4, 2019
If we lose toby, then Levy will have strengthened other teams more than he has strengthened us.
— mø (@SpursboyMb) January 4, 2019
Give him a new one instead
— bottlers fc (@NoiceOneSonny) January 4, 2019
Good news!!! Toby will still be with us ?? Come on you Spurs!!!
— A Corsica Vince ❄️ (@ACorsicaVince) January 4, 2019
Oh well , Life goes on .
— kingsley okoroafor (@fokoro1) January 4, 2019
Let’s now negotiate a new deal for him and keep him at spurs
— Jay Read (@simplyjambo) January 4, 2019
What a load of bollocks. Alderweireld will turn 30 in a few months time and not getting any younger. Sure, he’s been a very good player for us but looking back, he wasn’t deemed good enough for Athletico Madrid after a couple of seasons with them, wasn’t considered good enough for the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Chelsea, City or Manure to put a bid in for him either. It was Southampton who gave him a chance and he couldn’t jump fast enough when Spurs went in for him, it was a few steps up and in fact, it was Spurs who actually put him on the map through his partnership with Jan Vertonghen in the centre of our defence along with Walker and Rose on either side. Spurs paid £11.5M for him and a return of £25M is great value so don’t kid yourselves.
Who’d ever heard of Davinson Sanchez before Spurs bought him from Ajax for £40M? or Foyte for that matter. Both these guys could be a tremendous centre half pairing for years to come also, Jan has extended is contract too don’t forget. Eric Dier is also a natural centre half who could quite easily star in that position. Pochettino himself was a centre half at senior International level for Argentina and is far more qualified than any of us to make a call on players. Journalists, blogs and pundits alike can say what the hell they like, they do not have any control or influence on our club, just control of the simple minded amongst us.
Of course it would be sad to see Toby go in the Summer (if he does) but the club moves onwards as it has done for the past 137 years to date.
nice one Ray C.O.Y.S