Pre-season training has started for a large group of Tottenham players. Saturday saw Spurs' non-international players return to Hotspur Way as they prepare for the 2025/26 campaign.
It is once again the start of a new era in N17 following the club's decision to part with Ange Postecoglou and replace him with Thomas Frank after his stellar work at Brentford. The Dane was present at the club's training base to meet his players for the first time.
As ever, the first day of training was about various tests with the sports science staff after a good period away to rest and recuperate after a long 2024/25 season. Things will very soon start to step up as Frank looks to get his football philosophy across ahead of the team's first pre-season friendly against Reading on Saturday, July 19.
Here are five things we spotted in Tottenham's video of the first day of pre-season training at Hotspur Way:
Vuskovic spotted
It's not far off two years ago since Tottenham reached an agreement with Hajduk Split for the signing of highly-rated defender Luka Vuskovic. Always going to join up with Spurs in 2025 as he was 16 at the time of agreeing a move to north London, the Croat has wowed over the past couple of seasons during loan spells with Radomiak Radom and Westerlo.
Last spotted in Tottenham gear in September 2023, Spurs fans got the chance to finally see Vuskovic in Tottenham training kit on Saturday as he joined up with his teammates for the very first time. The 18-year-old underwent a number of tests on his first day at Hotspur Way and it came as no surprise to see him alongside Alfie Devine following their time together at Westerlo.
Vuskovic will now be looking to make a big impression on the training pitch as he bids to force his way into Frank's starting XI.
Kulusevski steps up his fitness
The end of the 2024/25 season proved to be bittersweet for Dejan Kulusevski as he missed Tottenham's Europa League triumph due to injury. A knee issue sustained against Crystal Palace in the middle of May unfortunately ruled him out of action and it resulted in him undergoing surgery on the injury.
Kulusevski was present at Hotspur Way with the rest of his Tottenham teammates as he stepped up his fitness ahead of the new season. It is not clear yet when the Swede will be back but Frank will no doubt provide a fresh update when he speaks to the media during pre-season.
The Sweden international could be seen on the treatment table in one part of the club's training video and towards the end of it he was in the gym stretching. Radu Dragusin, who missed the second half of last season through injury, was also there for the first day of training as so was Lucas Bergvall.
Loanees return
Frank and his coaching staff had a large number of players to work with at the club's training base on Saturday even though Tottenham's international players were missing. Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Brandon Austin, Djed Spence, Dane Scarlett, Dominic Solanke, Dragusin, Bergvall and Kulusevski were the first-team players spotted at Hotspur Way on the first day of training.
The numbers were boosted by the return of the club's loan players after time away during the 2024/25 season. The returning loanees were: Yang Min-hyeok, Jamie Donley, Will Lankshear, Ashely Phillips, Josh Keeley, George Abbott, Alejo Veliz, Bryan Gil, Devine and Vuskovic.
The aforementioned players will be wanting to catch the eye of the new boss this summer before decisions are made over whether they will be part of his first-team squad or not.
Absent players
It will be a staggered return to pre-season training for the Tottenham squad as many of them played international football at the end of last term. The internationals usually have a few more days off compared to those who went straight on their summer break, with the likes of Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray and Mikey Moore set to have slightly longer off this time after playing tournament football until the end of June.
The international players not spotted in the training video released on Saturday were: Kevin Danso, Son Heung-min, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Brennan Johnson, Pedro Porro, Manor Solomon, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, Tel, Gray, Odobert and Moore.
Porro was in fact back at Hotspur Way in his Spurs training kit on Friday as he posted a picture to his Instagram Stories from inside the club gym. James Maddison, who didn't represent England in June, was another player not spotted amongst the returning players, although he has been back at the club's base during the summer and did in fact meet new boss Frank and gave him an update on his injury.
New training kit
The start of a new season means Tottenham will be wearing brand new Nike kits in the 2025/26 season. The club have already released their latest home and away designs but supporters will probably have to wait until August to see the new third kit for the very first time.
Tottenham players were decked out in their brand new training wear on Saturday on their first day back at Hotspur Way. This season's training top is predominantly grey with navy blue sleeves and a touch of white on the shoulders.