In a surprising turn of events, Swedish football talent Lucas Bergvall has chosen to join Tottenham Hotspur over Barcelona, marking a significant victory for the Premier League side.
Bergvall, a 17-year-old midfielder, has emerged as one of Europe's most sought-after prospects. Initially, it seemed that he would be signing with Barcelona. However, Tottenham's persistent pursuit led by their Danish technical director Johan Lange managed to sway Bergvall in their favor. The final decision was made on Thursday night.
Tottenham has secured an agreement with Bergvall's current club, Djurgarden. The deal is worth a fixed fee approaching €10million (£8.5m or $10.9m) plus additional add-ons based on performance and other factors.
Bergvall will stay at Djurgarden until summer
Bergvall is expected to fly to London on Friday - his 18th birthday - to undergo a medical examination and sign a five-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur. As per the plan outlined in the agreement between Spurs and Djurgarden, he will continue playing for his current team until the end of this season before moving in summer and joining Spurs' senior squad.
Earlier this week, Bergvall visited both clubs under consideration: He met key personnel at Tottenham on Monday including chairman Daniel Levy and head coach Ange Postecoglou; similarly at Barcelona on Tuesday where he was pictured meeting their representatives.
Barcelona lost the race in the final moments of transfer window
A deal was almost finalized with LaLiga club, Barcelona; however Spurs managed to convince Bergvall that his career should continue there instead. This marks another impressive piece of recruitment by Spurs who have been successful in attracting top young talent from around Europe.
This move signifies not only a personal victory for Bergvall, who will now play in one of the world's most competitive leagues, but also a strategic win for Tottenham Hotspur. The club continues to demonstrate its commitment to nurturing young talent and building a strong team for the future.
