Alice Sombath: “A new league, a new challenge. I’m going to make the most of it”

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The France international, 22, signed for the club on Tuesday after six seasons at OL Lyonnes, where she went on to make over a century of appearances for the French side.

Signing her first professional contract with the Les Fenottes at 16 years old, the young defender has enjoyed a trophy-packed career to date, including becoming the first player of Thai heritage to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

A member of the France senior squad for the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro, Alice is ready for a new chapter in what is an already-impressive career at just 22 years old.

“I had a lot of talks with my entourage and I thought it was also another step for me to change clubs and try to give myself a new challenge,” she told us, after signing for the club.

“It means a lot. It's a new team for me. After six years in my past club, it's going to be a new challenge and I can't wait to start the season.

“The league is very competitive. It's the difficult games I'm most looking forward to. Every game is a tough game and coming here, that's what I'm most excited about.”

On what she wants to achieve as a Lilywhite, she added: “In terms of football, it would be to go as far as possible. It's a new league, a new challenge, so I'm going to try to make the most of it. Outside football, it'd be to keep growing as a person and player and try to develop my qualities.”

Breaking through into the first team at Lyon, Alice has gained invaluable experience on and off the pitch, winning five league titles and a number of domestic cups alongside the UEFA Champions League trophy – and she is keen to bring that mentality when she wears the Lilywhite shirt.

“I had been at OL Lyonnes for six years, I think I was able to gain a lot of experience and grow a lot there. I hope I can share that experience with my new team here, at Spurs.

“My experience, first and foremost,” she added, when asked what she could bring to the team. “My qualities can bring something to the team, even though I know they already have a lot. It will just be a plus for them and I hope it goes well.

“I think with the mentality I had there [at Lyon], I will try to keep it here, namely a mentality of top-level competition. I'll also stay myself as a cheerful and hard-working person, and I will do my best here.”

Watch | Alice Sombath's first interview