City AM

Daniel Levy is being slowly squeezed out of Tottenham Hotspur’s ownership structure but he could yet emerge as a major player in the NBA.

The former Spurs executive chairman was ousted from the club he had run for 25 years in September 2025 by majority owners the Lewis family.

Tottenham are owned by parent company Enic Sports Inc, which in turn is wholly owned by Enic International Ltd, where Levy’s family trust held a stake of almost 30 per cent when he stepped down.

Since then, however, the Lewis family have injected around £320m in cash, increasing their holding in Tottenham to 67 per cent. Levy had the option to match those investments and maintain his stake but has chosen not to, diluting his ownership to around 25 per cent.

Reducing Levy’s influence and that of any potential buyer of his shares may prove a smart move by the Lewis family. Levy has attempted to cash out by selling his stake to Eight Sports Capital, but the deal has stalled.

Eight Sports Capital, fronted by tech entrepreneur and former DJ Brooklyn Earick, had previously tried to buy Tottenham outright but was turned down before striking a deal for Levy’s minority holding.

Now Levy’s attention is turning towards basketball. The 64-year-old is part of a consortium, including Liberty Global and MSP Sports Capital, said to be the frontrunner for the London franchise of the NBA’s new European league, slated for launch in October next year.

The London team is the most sought-after in NBA Europe and expected to sell for around $1bn. Levy has long-standing ties to American sports and was instrumental in securing NFL games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but faces competition from familiar faces. None other than the Lewis family are part of a rival bid.

Burnley pay down debt – but might borrow more

It has long been a bugbear of Burnley fans that the club went from being one of the best-run clubs in the country to carrying significant debt after ALK Capital became majority owners in 2020.

The leveraged buyout effectively turned Burnley into a mini-Manchester United. According to the latest accounts, the club’s debt increased by £30m to £142m. Fans were further dismayed when City AM revealed last week that Velocity Capital, Burnley’s parent company, was served a compulsory strike-off notice by Companies House for overdue accounts, a process that can ultimately lead to liquidation.

This column has been told that £40m of the debt has been repaid and that the reduction will be reflected in the next accounts, due in April 2027. Club executives have not ruled out further borrowing in future, however, to run the club.

Burnley spent eight of the last 10 years in the Premier League before relegation last season, but are struggling in the Championship and sit in their lowest position in the pyramid in three decades.

When the World Anti-Doping Agency launched a new digital platform for managing whereabouts tests, accuracy might reasonably have been expected given what is at stake.

Athletes must inform the agency in advance of where they plan to be so they can be visited by drug testers, and they are given deadlines throughout the year to submit their whereabouts information for each quarter.

But when Wada launched its Athlete Center, the agency accidentally told athletes the wrong submission deadline. Wada has since issued a correction stating the deadline for submission for the first quarter of 2027 was 1 January – not 15 December.

The new platform, developed by IT firm Sword Group, replaces Wada’s old Athlete Central system and runs through a web browser rather than via an app, so users do not have to download anything. Wada says the platform “streamlines whereabouts management”, which hopefully proves more efficient than its proofreading.

British weightlifter hoists own ban

British weightlifter Marcus Harrison has effectively ruled himself out of two Olympic Games after testing positive for anabolic androgenic steroids.

Harrison failed to engage with UK Anti-Doping despite multiple attempts at reaching him after the agency informed him they had found boldenone and testosterone in a urine sample collected in October 2025.

Had he cooperated with the investigation, Harrison would have been handed the standard four-year ban, but his refusal to engage was treated as an aggravating factor, adding a further two years.

The six-year ban rules him out of the LA2028 Olympics and, if rules are followed, leaves the 2032 Olympics in Australia a remote prospect.

Under the terms of the suspension Harrison is not permitted to compete or even train in any official capacity. The suspension will be lifted in January 2032 – only six months before the Brisbane Games are scheduled to begin.

Lincoln’s light show

Lincoln City have leveraged data and AI to defy the odds and reach the Championship – and light is their next innovation.

The Championship side won promotion from League One last season despite operating with one of the division’s lowest playing budgets and are now exploring how light exposure can enhance performance.

Research has shown that when and how people absorb light can influence mood and improve energy levels and sleep quality. Lincoln are assessing how this can be applied to football.

It is believed that dimmer lighting in dressing rooms and on team coaches after night games can support melatonin production and help players and staff wind down for sleep, while bright, cool lighting in the morning at the training ground – along with light boxes on dark winter mornings – can increase alertness.

Other Lincoln innovations include an AI-led set-piece strategy and a data-driven recruitment model designed to identify players suited to the club’s athletic, direct and set-piece-focused style.

They say it never rains but it pours: struggling Tottenham Hotspur’s latest problem is Drip, the canned-water company owned by celebrity chef Big Zuu, whose liquidation has left the club high and dry.

Spurs signed a deal in 2024 making Drip the official front-of-training-wear partner of the women’s team, with much fanfare around the shared sustainability values between the club and the company, described as a “disruptor in the water market”.

But the club – stranded in the relegation zone without a win from their opening six matches despite spending over £300m in the summer – are now not expected to receive a drop of the £86,000 owed.

Drip entered voluntary liquidation with debts of more than £9m. National League side Worthing FC have also been left in choppy waters, owed £14,000.

The drink brand, founded in 2023 and stocked in retailers including Morrisons and WH Smith, also became the official water partner of Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn’s promotion company, though Matchroom are not listed as creditors.

Last year, Drip was valued at around £100m after securing a £4m investment from Middle Eastern firm Raya Holding.

LIV Golf in BC’s hands

The precarious nature of LIV Golf’s future has been laid bare in a change to the restructuring support agreement.

After Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew from its multi-billion-pound investment in the league – forcing LIV to declare bankruptcy – the original agreement stated that the league would be deemed viable for a rescue package from BC Partners if at least 50 per cent of players, accounting for at least two-thirds of the total player claims, signed up.

But those terms have now changed, leaving the threshold at the total discretion of the private equity firm – meaning BC Partners could review the list of players and decide not to proceed.

LIV Golf is racing to secure the future of its players by the October 25 commitment deadline. Jon Rahm, the two-time major winner with an unsecured £5.5m claim, was the first star to pull out. Rahm’s lawyer told a bankruptcy hearing the new terms were “unacceptable”.

European players’ resolve will be tested after the DP World Tour said it would ban players signed up to LIV from competing in their events, effectively ruling out Ryder Cup selection.

Both LIV Golf and BC Partners are understood to be bullish about pressing ahead with plans for what they are calling LIV 2.0.

Manchester United’s new staff member in ticket fight

Manchester United are recruiting a “Supporter Escalations Executive”, suggesting the club are strapping in for a prolonged battle with season ticket holders and members.

This column first reported in the summer that season ticket holders had started receiving emails informing them their account had been restricted while activity potentially breaching ticketing regulations was investigated.

Supporters of several decades claimed the club were forcing out loyal fans to make more income from tourists and corporates – though the club have insisted it was a legitimate exercise to try to weed out touts and bot activity.

City AM has been told that attention has turned from season ticket holders to members, and the recently posted job advert suggests much more is to come. The listing says the role is key to “support the club’s mission to tackle ticket touting” and that the successful candidate will manage “a high volume of complex supporter investigations, sanctions, appeals and escalations”.

F1 teams to discuss easing cost cap

Formula 1 teams are set to discuss proposals for easing the cost cap to help constructors outside the top four.

Introduced in 2021 to improve financial sustainability, the cap has coincided with a boom in team valuations. The cap was increased by £60.5m to £162.4m in April, but mid-tier teams believe rising costs are making it impossible to compete with the grid’s leaders.

In a move thought to be driven by Williams, the prospect of a sliding-scale system is due to be raised at an F1 Commission meeting in November.

Any changes would require six of the 11 teams to vote in favour – unlikely next month, though the debate is expected to continue.

Luke Littler show to copy Ally Pally

Tickets have gone on sale for Beat Luke Littler, the live Netflix show where 20 amateur hopefuls will take on the darts sensation in a single leg for the chance to win £501,000.

Darts fans flocked to the heats in Manchester and London in scenes akin to X Factor’s heyday and City AM has now been told that, with more than 2,000 tickets on sale for the night, organisers are confident they can replicate the magic of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Ally Pally hosts around 3,200 raucous fans per session, while Manchester Central will welcome up to 2,800 for the Littler one-off. Fancy dress is encouraged and doors will open at 4pm for the 7pm event. Littler has warned: “I won’t be going easy at all!”

Euro 2028’s safe bet

While English football takes steps to shed gambling sponsorship, the Football Association is powerless to stop Euro 2028 from having an official betting partner.

The FA severed ties with betting companies after ending its Ladbrokes deal in 2017, while Premier League clubs agreed to a ban on front-of-shirt gambling sponsors, which came into effect this season.

But that has not stopped Betano, a Greek international online betting platform, attaching itself to Euro 2028 – the first international men’s tournament to be held entirely on these shores since Euro ‘96.

The agreement has been signed with tournament organisers Uefa, who take full control of operations once the tournament begins.

e.l.f. Brands, part of e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF), includes e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN and e.l.f. Hair, announces the continuation of its partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Women as the Official Back of Shirt Sponsor, coming off of the Women’s team’s most successful season in WSL history.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261013525570/en/

e.l.f. and Tottenham Hotspur Women are united by a shared ambition: to champion the growth and visibility of women’s football, creating wider access to sport and accelerating pathways for the next generation of leaders.

Last season, e.l.f. created a surprise and delight moment for 180 young girl footballers, giving them the opportunity of a lifetime to meet two Spurs players and former captain and Hall of Famer, Jenna Schillaci. They focused on developing the skills learned on the pitch and how they can apply them to later become successful women leaders in the workforce.

That field exercise complements the broader research e.l.f. released earlier this week in the report, “Girls Who Play Change the Game”. Conducted in partnership with Parity, the study draws on more than 9,500 respondents across the UK, US, Canada and Germany, making it one of the largest and broadest studies of its kind. The study reveals 95% of Everyday Athletes* say they learned at least one professional skill through sport, with the most common skills learned that support them in their careers being teamwork, performing under pressure, communication, discipline, perseverance and adaptability.

The study demonstrated Everyday Athletes are nearly 50% more likely to hold leadership roles at work. That’s why e.l.f. is doubling down on keeping girls in the game and opening doors from the locker room to the boardroom.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Women to force multiply visibility, access and opportunity for women in sports. Together, we’re using our loudspeaker to champion these incredible athletes, connect communities and help change the game for the next generation,” said Patrick O’Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Officer, e.l.f. Brands.

“Too many girls leave sports just as they’re building the skills that can shape their futures. Our research shows Everyday Athletes are nearly 50% more likely to hold leadership roles at work—and in the UK, 36% more likely to have negotiated their salary, the biggest gap of any country we studied. We want to disrupt that trajectory by keeping girls in the game, democratizing access to the playing field and opening more doors from the locker room to the boardroom.”

“Our partnership with e.l.f. brings together two disruptors in their respective spaces, united by a shared ambition to challenge convention and drive the women’s game forward,” said Ryan Norys, Chief Revenue Officer, Tottenham Hotspur. “The first year of the partnership was underlined by the progress of our Women’s team on the pitch, and together we will continue to champion the women’s game and create unmatched experiences for our supporters.”

Throughout the 2026-2027 season, Tottenham Hotspur Women and e.l.f. will continue to deliver unique experiences, innovative content and community initiatives.

Tottenham Hotspur Women is part of a long list of e.l.f.’s empowering.legendary.female. partnerships from leagues including National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) to athletes including Billie Jean King, NWSL player, Jess Carter and professional race car driver Katherine Legge.

*women who play sports for at least three years before the end of secondary school and now work full time.

About e.l.f. Brands

e.l.f. Brands, part of e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF), includes e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN and e.l.f. Hair, and is fueled by a mission to make the best of beauty accessible and a purpose to make the world a better place for every eye, lip and face. Purpose led and results driven, e.l.f. Beauty is a different kind of company that disrupts norms, shapes culture and connects communities through positivity, inclusivity and accessibility. As a bold disruptor with a kind heart, e.l.f. Brands’s superpowers are delivering universally appealing, premium-quality products at affordable prices that are vegan, e.l.f. clean and double-certified by Leaping Bunny and PETA as cruelty-free. e.l.f. Brands are proud to have products made in Fair Trade Certified™ facilities. Learn more at www.elfcosmetics.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261013525570/en/

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The NFL has cut ticket prices for this weekend’s fixture between the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders in a bid to fill the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Some high-end category seats at Sunday’s game – the first of three across London in October – have been reduced to less than £80 each.

It follows concerns that this could be the first NFL match at the north London venue, which has a retractable pitch for NFL usage, with an attendance of below 60,000.

London matches are often hot tickets, with the NFL staging three matches in the capital for a number of years now – October’s fixtures will be the 43rd, 44th and 45th games to be played inside the M25.

NFL cut prices

After Sunday’s match between the Colts and the Commanders, which are co-owned by Crystal Palace shareholder David Blitzer, the Philadelphia Eagles will face the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Jags, which are owned by Fulham owner Shahid Khan, will head across the capital to Wembley Stadium for their second London match of October, against the Houston Texans.

It comes as American Express data revealed that the trio of matches could generate £90m in extra spend, with the majority of attendees set to travel from outside of the capital and each spend an average £450 sum.

In addition to the three London matches in October, the 2026-27 NFL season has seen an expanded international calendar. Matches this year have so far been played in Brazil and Australia, while matches later in the season will take place in France, Spain, Germany and Mexico.

“The NFL London Games have become a major moment in the UK sporting calendar, and our research shows the experience for fans extends far beyond what happens on the field,” said Aaron Burke of American Express.

Less prestigious

Ticket-Compare.com analyst Alex Bird told City AM: “The Colts–Commanders game is cheaper because demand is lower than for the other NFL London fixtures this year. The NFL had already priced this match-up below Eagles–Jaguars in the original sale, and, following this week’s sudden discounts, even that pricing appears to have been a bit too ambitious.

“London NFL fans are still willing to turn out for these games, but this match-up looks less prestigious than the other Tottenham fixture, which pairs a recent Super Bowl winner with the Jaguars, who are more familiar to London fans.”

Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur could claim damages from Manchester City after they were found guilty of 114 counts of breaching Premier League rules.

All four clubs formally retained the option to bring a claim against Manchester City back in 2024, when an independent commission hearing into 115 charges was in progress, in order to ensure they would not be time-barred.

The commission’s initial verdict on Manchester City’s guilt on all but one of the charges opens the door for compensation claims to be lodged now by teams who suffered a loss of revenue – via prize money – as a result of the alleged cheating.

Burnley were awarded £35m from Everton earlier this year, a result of arguing that the latter’s breach of spending rules denied them a fair chance of avoiding relegation.

“The bar for bringing such claims is arguably much lower now in light of Burnley’s successful recent claim against Everton, which itself is subject to appeal,” said Simon Leaf, co-founder of Three Points Law.

Leaf added: “It is also possible that the panel directs City to compensate others in the league, as well as potentially taking titles away. Nothing is off the table.”

Manchester United twice finished second to Manchester City during the period covered by the charges, 2009 to 2018. Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham could also claim they finished lower than they might have in various seasons.

Fred Snowball, a partner at Macfarlanes, said the prospects of any damages claims against Manchester City had been “much improved by Burnley’s successful claim against Everton”.

“Those claims would be enormously complex and, until very recently, largely unprecedented. Modelling the impact of Everton’s overspending in the Burnley case was very complex, and that concerned just a single season.

“Players at rival clubs could also bring claims for lost prize money, bonuses, and career opportunities. Those claims would be novel but not without foundation.”

Paul Stothard, partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, said the commission’s verdict would, if upheld pending an appeal, “open the floodgates to further legal challenges”.

“Manchester City being found liable for 114 out of 115 rule breaches means that other clubs may choose to pursue compensation for lost revenue, missed European qualification or relegation – though they would need to be able to prove how City’s breaches impacted on their own ability to compete and their quantifiable loss,” he said.

Sponsors such as Puma, Revolut and Asahi could also terminate their contracts with Manchester City if the charges are upheld, Leaf added.

“This is a damning indictment that goes to the very heart of the club and, assuming this is not overturned on appeal, will cause great damage to the club’s reputation and standing in the football world, which will have long-term consequences,” he said.

“Such consequences may extend beyond any sanction that the panel eventually impose – and could include the potential for sponsors to terminate contracts early under anti-embarrassment clauses that are commonly included in these types of deals.”

Tottenham Hotspur have lost another senior off-field figure after the club’s chief revenue officer jumped ship to MotoGP.

Ryan Norys joined the Premier League club after stints with Serie A side Roma and Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers but is leaving to become chief commercial officer at the motorbike series after four years. It’s understood he has a lengthy notice period to serve before his move.

His departure continues a series of high-profile exits from the club, none bigger than co-owner and former executive chairman Daniel Levy, who had been at the club for 25 years until his abrupt exit 12 months ago.

Former executive director Donna-Maria Cullen resigned after 30 years in north London, while the club’s chief football officer Scott Munn departed after a restructuring.

“I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together,” Norys wrote after his exit was confirmed. “Commercial revenue has grown 51 per cent during my time at the club, an achievement that belongs to the talented people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside, both past and present.”

Tottenham Hotspur exit door

It comes as Tottenham Hotspur face some commercial challenges, with front-of-shirt sponsor AIA leaving its position for a new one on the training kit at the end of the season and reports of South Korean brand Sidiz activating an early termination clause this month.

Norys will join MotoGP, which is now owned by Formula 1 owners Liberty Media. The four-wheeled motor sport operates a karting track inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And his move comes amid a major hiring spree since Carlos Ezpeleta became deputy chief executive. Sameer Pabari, formerly of the NFL, Warner Bros Discovery and Manchester United, is joining as chief media officer, Louise Young is moving from Formula 1 to become chief operating officer, and Denitza Batchvarova is arriving from TKO Group Holdings as chief strategy officer.

MotoGP chiefs told City AM earlier this year that the British Grand Prix remains a crucial cog in their expanding global calendar.

Tottenham Hotspur are facing pressure from Haringey Council leaders to sacrifice a fixed percentage of revenue for residents of Northumberland Park, the seat of their £1bn stadium.

Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham has held talks with the Haringey Green Party, who told City AM the club had been “allowed to default on their planning obligations” attached to the stadium by the previous Labour administration.

Both parties are said to be engaging in good faith and are due to meet again before the end of the month to further discuss the proposal.

The Greens, who run the borough as its largest party, want Spurs to give up around 0.1 per cent of turnover for a “popular assets commission”, a type of community investment fund co-administered by residents and the council. In the last documented financial year, that would have equated to a £565,000 commitment.

“Tottenham Hotspur Stadium sits in one of the most deprived wards in England,” a Haringey Green Party spokesperson said. “The record-breaking events it hosts seem to be a good deal for Spurs, but a bad deal for Tottenham.

“The previous Labour-run Haringey Council allowed the club to default on its planning obligations, including social housing and employment support. All while residents adapt to growing numbers of non-football events, generating tens of millions in revenue.”

Spurs were released from £16m in obligations attached to the new stadium in 2012, before construction began. In 2024, they were granted a new license to raise the number of major non-football events held annually at the 62,850-capacity arena from 16 to 30.

A club spokesperson said: “Any suggestion that Tottenham Hotspur has defaulted on its planning obligations, or was allowed by Haringey Council to do so, is wholly inaccurate. All relevant planning obligations were formally agreed with Haringey Council and the club has complied with them.

“The club has invested more than £1.2bn in the stadium and surrounding area, delivering new affordable homes; a new primary school; restoring heritage buildings; and investing in local infrastructure.

“We recognise the challenges facing Northumberland Park but it is important that any discussion about the club’s contribution to the area is based on an accurate account of the planning history and the significant contribution the club already makes.”

While Spurs’ fortunes on the pitch have been mixed since they moved out of White Hart Lane, income from the stadium, brand deals, retail and other commercial streams is up 300 per cent over the same period.

The club grossed £32.5m across 2024-25’s programme of non-football events as the likes of Beyonce and the NFL sold out the stadium, before the full rollout of the 30-event license. Broadly speaking, revenue is expected to increase linearly under the new deal, though so too will costs.

Northumberland Park is one of London’s most economically deprived wards. A study from Place Matters, a social charity, marked the child poverty rate as 27 per cent, while benefit claimant rates are also among the highest in the capital.

Spurs’ accounts reveal they supported their charity, the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, to the tune of £500,000 last year. The foundation – which is also funded through grants, donations and external contracts – delivered £3.25m in programmes across unemployment support, mental health and community initiatives, among other areas.

A club-commissioned report produced by EY in 2023 estimated that Spurs and their 62,850-seat stadium contributed £296m in gross value added to Haringey’s economy in the preceding financial year, as well as supporting the equivalent of 2,800 full-time jobs.

Clubs including Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been criticised for doing deals with unlicensed gambling firms as the government continues a consultation on banning such organisations from sponsoring sport.

Chelsea and Spurs are two of 11 Premier League clubs which hold agreements with betting companies not licensed in the UK. Others include Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

The consultation is gauging the possibility of banning any unlicensed firm from sponsoring a sports team, and established betting group Entain – which runs the likes of Ladbrokes, Coral and BetMGM – has called for an immediate ban.

“Premier League clubs that have struck new deals with unlicensed gambling operators knew the risks,” the firm’s chief executive Stella David said.

“The Government made clear in February that it would bring in a ban and it should do so immediately: even if that means clubs ordering new kit mid-season. Inconvenience is not an excuse for inaction.”

Unlicensed gambling dominating

It comes in the first season since Premier League clubs adopted a voluntary ban on any gambling brands – licensed or unlicensed – being their main, front-of-shirt sponsor.

Around £17bn was wagered on unlicensed gambling platforms in the UK last year, with that figure expected to grow to beyond £30bn by 2028, according to some studies.

Chelsea are one of five Premier League clubs to have agreed a sponsorship deal with 8XBet, alongside Ipswich Town, Coventry City, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Everton’s deal with Stake has already come under fire by campaigners, while Spurs have a partnership with VSBet, Nottingham Forest with FUN88 and Crystal Palace with Chexx.bet.

Last week Sunderland announced a deal with Curacao-based Shuffle, and Fulham have an agreement with SBOTOP.

Entain argues that the agreements between Premier League clubs and unlicensed gambling firms has unmatched reach due to their appearance on live television and highlights shows such as Match of the Day.

“Under current legislation,” the consultation states, “businesses are able to enter into advertising and sponsorship arrangements with gambling operators which are not licensed by the Gambling Commission, so long as those operators’ services cannot be accessed by consumers in Great Britain.

“Unlicensed operators prevent access to their services by geo-blocking their websites. However, this can be circumvented by consumers using a virtual private network.

“We want to change this. The current legislation undermines the gambling licensing and advertising regulatory frameworks, which aim to protect consumers in Great Britain and reduce the risk of money-laundering and crime.”

Tottenham Hotspur have taken their summer spending past the £300m mark by completing the signing of winger Savinho from Manchester City.

The Brazilian is the fourth player to join Spurs for a fee of more than £50m since the end of last season, following Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.

They have also signed Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka on free transfers and are expected to land Omar Marmoush, also from City, before next week’s deadline.

Tottenham Hotspur have thrown money at their rebuilding project, having finished just one place above the Premier League’s relegation zone in the past two seasons.

They have also made Roberto de Zerbi one of football’s highest paid managers – a last roll of the dice towards the end of last season that helped them avoid relegation.

Savinho credited De Zerbi with persuading him to move to north London after two mixed seasons at City and fourth with the wider City Football Group network.

“It’s taken a while but I’m very happy to be here,” said the 22-year-old, who now wishes to be known as Savio.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity at a brilliant club with one of the best managers in the world.

“As soon as I spoke to the head coach I knew I had to come. He told me he wants to help me reach the highest level, and I believe we can do that together, as a team.”

Tottenham spending trails Chelsea splurge

The club’s extraordinary spending is reflected in the fact that all three of the most expensive signings – £100m Tonali, £85m Fernandes and Savio – have all arrived this summer.

Only Chelsea, whose £117m deal for Morgan Rogers set a new record for an English player, have spent more in this window, which closes on Tuesday 1 September.

Despite that investment, Spurs began the new Premier League campaign with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Saturday.

“Savio is a player who brings energy, imagination and quality in wide positions,” said De Zerbi. “He has the courage to attack defenders and the ability to change a game with his creativity.

“We’re very pleased to have him with us, and I’m looking forward to working with him, helping him continue to grow and seeing him bring his personality to the team.”

Tottenham Hotspur: Daniel Levy sells majority of shares in Spurs owner ENIC

Daniel Levy has sold the majority of his shares in the parent company of Tottenham Hotspur to Eight Sports Capital.

The British Virgin Islands-registered firm has agreed to buy a 24.99 per cent stake in Spurs’ majority shareholder, ENIC Sports and Developments Holdings Limited, from the trustee of Daniel Levy’s family trust.

It leaves Levy, Spurs chief executive until his sudden ousting at the start of last season, with around four per cent of ENIC.

A spokesperson for Eight Sports Capital Limited said: “We are delighted to have signed this agreement to acquire a significant stake in ENIC.

“We look forward to working with the Club’s shareholders, management, staff, players and fans to support Tottenham Hotspur’s continued growth and success.”

Levy tenure coming to an end?

Levy was an unpopular co-owner of Tottenham Hotspur in his latter years, blamed for dwindling on-field performances in recent years despite the club winning the Europa League.

But he has been credited with turning Tottenham Hotspur into a Big Six behemoth with revenues of over £500m and a stadium with deals with the NFL and Formula 1.

Before the ENIC stake sale to Eight Sports Capital Limited the firm was split 70/30 between the Lewis family trust and Levy’s family share, with ENIC itself owning over 85 per cent of Tottenham Hotspur. The other 13 per cent is controlled by around 30,000 minority investors.

There have been a number of reports in recent months about the sale of the club entirely, but the Lewis family said after the Premier League season that Tottenham Hotspur as a whole was not for sale.

“We are not selling the club,” the family said at the time. “We are all in, we are investing in it. You will see more of this in the coming months.

“We care deeply about Spurs. The rebuild the club needs, and you deserve, has begun. The change required is deep. It will take time and commitment, but change is happening.

“We know that actions will speak louder than words.”

Levy is yet to confirm the deal.