Tottenham Hotspur Women have pulled off a major coup by signing 22-year-old French defender Alice Sombath from Olympique Lyonnais. The Lilywhites, currently fifth in the FA WSL with 36 points from 22 games, have added a serial winner to a defence that conceded 38 goals last season.
What does Sombath bring to Tottenham Hotspur Women?
Sombath arrives with an elite CV: five Division 1 Féminine titles and a 2022 Champions League crown with Lyon. Her defensive intelligence and aerial dominance will immediately strengthen a Spurs backline that shipped 38 goals last term. The North Londoners are banking on her Champions League pedigree to tighten their league form, which currently sits at 11 wins, three draws and eight losses.
Speaking to Tottenham’s official channels, Sombath framed the move as a fresh challenge. “I had a lot of talks with my entourage and thought it was another step for me to change clubs and try to give myself a new challenge,” she said. Her comments underline Spurs’ ambition to build a ruthless winning culture under manager Rehanne Skinner.
Why this signing matters now
Tottenham Hotspur Women sit fifth in the FA WSL on 36 points after 22 games, with recent form reading win, win, draw, loss, loss. The club’s recruitment team moved fast to land Sombath before the transfer window slammed shut, beating rival interest to a defender with over 100 senior appearances. Her arrival sends a clear message: Spurs are no longer just participants in England’s top flight.
Sombath also brings European experience to a squad preparing for another gruelling domestic campaign. With Manchester City 19 points clear at the summit, every point counts. The French defender’s competitive edge should help Spurs grind out tighter results in tight games, where they’ve often faltered.
What comes next for Spurs Women?
Pre-season training is in full swing as Spurs Women target a top-four finish. Sombath’s integration will be key, especially with the club’s defensive unit still bedding in after last season’s leaky displays. The fans, who’ve watched Spurs climb from the Women’s Championship in 2019, are already buzzing at the prospect of a marquee signing leading the charge.
Sombath insists she’ll bring the same mentality that powered her Lyon success. “I think with the mentality I had there, I will try to keep it here - a mentality of top-level competition,” she told the club’s media team. Her words will resonate with a fanbase hungry for progress.
As the fixtures loom, Spurs Women sit fifth in the FA WSL with 36 points from 22 games and a recent run of two wins, a draw and two losses. With Sombath now in the fold, the Lilywhites have a new leader to rally behind as they chase European football.
