Tottenham record signing returns to former club on loan after failing to impress

Tottenham Hotspur’s record signing Tanguy Ndombele has returned to his former club Lyon on loan until the end of the season. 

The Ligue 1 side confirmed the Frenchman’s return on Twitter, simply writing ‘welcome back’ to a player that departed the club only two years ago.

Ndombele joined Spurs from France for a fee of £55.5 million in the summer of 2019, but he has struggled with both form and fitness in the capital and he will now spend the remainder of the season elsewhere.

The 25-year-old’s time in North London looked to be coming to an end when he was booed off the pitch after being substituted during Spurs’ game against Morecambe in the FA Cup earlier this month.

Ndombele has not played for the Lilywhites since being booed off while 1-0 down against League One Morecambe

The France international has made 91 appearances for Spurs so far, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists, although it remains to be seen whether he will add to those tallies.

The arrival of Ndombele in Lyon follows Bruno Guimaraes’ departure, with the Brazilian having joined Newcastle United in a permanent deal over the weekend.

Ndombele spent two successful years with Lyon, initially on loan from Amiens.

He played 96 matches for the top flight side, and established himself as one of the best midfielders in the division during that period, as well as forcing himself into the France national team setup, for whom he made his senior debut in 2018.