Tottenham Hotspur

Kota Takai played his first minutes in a Spurs shirt with Radu Dragusin also stepping up his return to fitness in a training ground friendly for our Under-21s against Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday afternoon.

Japan international defender Kota, 21, joined us in the summer from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale but plantar fasciitis and a subsequent thigh problem have unfortunately kept him on the sidelines since his arrival.

After working hard on his rehabilitation, he lined up alongside Radu and our Under-21s for a useful initial run-out against the Daggers at Hotspur Way.

Both defenders had their minutes carefully managed – Kota played the first half, while Radu completed 65 minutes before being substituted.

It was Radu’s second outing for Wayne Burnett’s side, after playing in a similar training ground friendly against Leyton Orient last month following his ACL injury in January.

Under-21s defender Maeson King also picked up some useful minutes in his first action since getting injured at the end of last season. Named in our first team squad twice last term, the 20-year-old left-back completed the second half against the National League South outfit.

Micky van de Ven took November's Goal of the Month vote by storm with his sensational solo run and finish against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League taking the top prize.

Leading 2-0 and down to 10 men on the night, the centre-back picked the ball up from his own box and carried the ball a whopping 67.7m - a competition record - before showing the composure to fire into the back of the net on our way to winning 4-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 4 November.

In a month that brought some exquisite Spurs strikes, it was always going to take an outrageous effort to topple the Dutch international who claimed 81 per cent of your vote to win last month's award.

Goal of the Month winners 2025/26

August, 2025 | Richarlison's second vs Burnley

September, 2025 | Cathinka Tandberg vs Everton

October, 2025 | Leo Black vs AS Monaco U19

November, 2025 | Micky van de Ven vs FC Copenhagen

Richarlison will be looking to revive his impressive Premier League return against Newcastle United in this evening's late kick-off at St James' Park (8.15pm UK).

The Brazil international has been involved in six goals in 10 league appearances against Newcastle (four goals, two assists), only managing more against Liverpool in the competition (four goals, three assists).

In his last top-flight outing against the Magpies, our number nine scored twice in a 4-1 home win in December 2023 and heads into tonight's contest as our current top scorer with five goals.

The Brazilian was back amongst the goals in November with his first Champions League goal of the campaign at Paris Saint-Germain following up his strikes against Manchester United and Arsenal in the league and has 16 goals in his last 23 Premier League starts.

We head into Tuesday's clash on Tyneside almost inseparable in the league standings with us locked on 18 points and sitting one place above 13th-place Newcastle on goal difference.

Despite a poor recent record at St James' Park, winless in three trips there since a 3-2 success in October 2021, we have still impressed away from home this season, claiming 13 of 18 top-flight points available. We are also unbeaten in all four away games outside of London this season (W3 D1), last enjoying a longer such run between March and October 2022 (six matches).

Signe Gaupset will be a Spurs player!

The Norway international will join us on 1 January, 2026, from SK Brann after penning a long-term contract with the Club.

One of the brightest prospects in Women’s football right now, the talented midfielder has enjoyed a stunning 12 months, particularly after starring for Brann in their charge to the Toppserien title while making her mark for Norway at Euro 2025.

Now she embarks on a new challenge in the new year as she becomes a Lilywhite player!

Get to know our newest arrival below with 10 things you might not know about her.

Family inspiration

Signe started to fall in love with the game at around four or five years old and her sibling rivalry with her brother was the start of it. Having watched her brother, who is two years older, she wanted to become better than him and quickly joined a boys’ team to begin her journey.

“I've always wanted to be better than him in everything,” she told us, speaking in her first interview with the Club. “So, it's been a lot of competition at home. He’s supporting now and watches all the games, so that's really nice.”

Alongside her brother, she also has a younger sister.

Instant impact

The attack-minded midfielder joined IK Sandivien – now known as SK Brann – in 2021 at the age of 16 and she was thrown straight into the action at senior level – but that certainly didn’t faze her.

Making her competitive debut in the second round of the Norwegian Cup, the young midfielder scored in the 2-0 win over Asante and, in her first league game, she also found the back of the net in the 4-0 victory against Arna-Bjornar.

Early signs of what was to come from her sensational few years at Brann.

New adventures

It wasn’t just a new club that Signe had to adjust to when she joined Brann, but a completely new way of life – as she moved away from home at just the age of 16.

Alongside playing regular football, she also had to balance it with school work, studying education for three-and-a-half years while in Bergen before her final year and a half was purely focused on football.

“It was tough at the beginning but everyone was supportive and helped me a lot,” she told us on her content capture day as a new Spurs player.

“My parents tried to come down as often as they could. But I just got into a routine with school and training so my days became so busy anyway.”

Favourite Food

Stepping away from the football pitch, Signe revealed that her favourite food to enjoy is actually Tacos – specifically on Fridays!

And this isn’t as unusual as you would think in Norway as, on every Friday, it’s a popular weekly tradition where people eat tacos together, representing a relaxed and social way to end the week.

So, Signe’s family and friends would enjoy some tacos to kick-off the perfect weekend in their home country.

Nickname

Need a shorter version for Signe?

Well, she revealed that some people call her ‘Sig’ for short – although she’s not sure where it really started, but it has caught on since.

A familiar face

Upon her arrival at Hotspur Way in January, Signe will have a familiar face in the building – Cathinka Tandberg.

The duo have spent the early parts of their career together in Norway’s youth sides and now in the senior squad.

“I have known her for a while,” she told us. “We’ve been playing together at youth level for Norway and then the senior side.

“I know her well and we’ve been talking a bit about Spurs, settling in down here – so that has been a lot of help.”

Biggest achievement

Despite only being 20 years old, Signe has already achieved so much in her early career – on the domestic and international stage.

When we posed her on her biggest achievement to date, she listed playing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final for SK Brann – where they faced Barcelona – and also representing her nation at Euro 2025 for her first major international tournament.

And she certainly made an impression on the European stage as, on her first start for Norway against Iceland in the second game of the group stage, the midfielder netted a brace and registered an assist.

A tournament to remember for the young star.

Accolades

After her standout performances for Brann this term, with 27 goal involvements in 25 games, she was named the Toppserien’s Player of the Year for 2025.

Having also starred at Euro 2025 for Norway last summer, she was also nominated for the Golden Girl Trophy.

During her time with Brann, she won the Toppserien twice (2022 and 2025) and the Norwegian Cup.

Off the field

While football might be at the forefront of Signe’s life right now, she actually revealed to us that wasn’t always the case during her younger years.

In fact, alongside playing football at junior level, she competed in Cross-country skiing and at a competitive level.

However, when it came to choosing between the two, it was always an easy choice for her.

Footballing idols

Signe revealed that she has three footballers that she looked up to, taking different attributes from each to be inspired by.

One was Cristiano Ronaldo for his mentality, second was Kevin De Bruyne for his vision and then one of Norway’s all-time goalscorers - Ada Hegerberg.

The young star shared a photo on her Official Instagram account with Hegerberg in 2016 and fast forward nine years later, she was lining up alongside one of her footballing idols to represent their nation at Euro 2025.

As outlined in recent emails from the Club, the new SSO (Single Sign-On) log in process is now live.

The system is in place across the following digital platforms:

The Official Spurs App

eTicketing

The Membership Hub

SPURSPLAY

Player Development Programmes - Online Booker

Supporters are encouraged to read the below information carefully as the update will affect the way you log in to some of our services.

All supporters logging in to The Official Spurs App, eTicketing, The Membership Hub, SPURSPLAY or Player Development Programme Online Booker will now log in using their email address as their username - this will be the only way to log into your account.

Users who currently log in using their CRN (Client Reference Number) will now need to use the email address associated with their CRN. You can use the above links to log in and initiate this change.

Your CRN will still be associated with your account. This will continue to be the number associated with your match tickets, ticketing points and booking history, and other supporters will still be able to add you to their networks using your unique CRN.

This evening, we make our second trip of the campaign to Newcastle United as we take on the Magpies in the Premier League.

Here’s everything you need to know...

What time does the match start?

The game begins at 8.15pm UK time.

How can I watch the game?

Supporters in the UK will be able to watch the action live on Sky Sports Premier League.

Fans based outside of the UK should check our Spurs on TV page to see if the game is live in your area.

As ever, our Match Centre here on tottenhamhotspur.com and the Spurs Official app will bring you full live text and audio commentary throughout the match, while video highlights and a full match replay will be available on SPURSPLAY from midnight.

What is the team news?

Cristian Romero is back in the frame after serving a one-game ban against Fulham at the weekend.

Thomas Frank has reported no fresh injury concerns coming out of that match with the Cottagers, but Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke remain sidelined.

Ben Davies has been back in our matchday squads against PSG and Fulham. Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai are also back in training.

Yoane Wissa is on the verge of being fit to play for Newcastle, but it remains to be seen whether or not tonight’s game comes too soon for him.

Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth, William Osula are out, with Sven Botman and goalkeeper Nick Pope considered doubtful.

Considered one of the great players of his day, Peter McWilliam was part of Newcastle United's all-conquering team of the 1900s before leading us to Second Division title and FA Cup glory in successive seasons after the First World War.

In doing so, he wrote his name in the history books - the first person to win the FA Cup as both a player and a manager - he's pictured at the top of the page alongside skipper Arthur Grimsdell, proudly holding the famous trophy after Jimmy Dimmock's goal beat Wolves at Stamford Bridge.

Born in Inverness on 21 September, 1879, Peter played for Heatherley FC and Inverness Thistle prior to joining Newcastle during August, 1902. Handed his league debut against Middlesbrough two months later, he held a regular place from season 1904/05, netting four goals in 26 games as United claimed their first league title. Championship medals followed in both 1907 and 1909 and in 1910 he gained an FA Cup winners medal having also featured in the 1905, 1906 and 1908 finals.

Regarded as the greatest half back of his day, McWilliam won the first of his eight full caps for Scotland against England at Crystal Palace on 1 April, 1905. However, an injury sustained on international duty against Wales at Cardiff on 6 March, 1911 brought his playing career to an end.

During the Great War he worked on the manufacture of munitions at Woolwich Arsenal and on his return to Tottenham, fashioned the team which won the Second Division title in 1919/20, FA Cup in 1921 and runners-up spot in the First Division in 1921/22.

Enticed to join Middlesbrough as manager during 1927, McWilliam spent seven years on Teeside before a four-year spell as chief scout at Arsenal. Three years later, he was back at the Lane as manager and in June, 1939 received the Football League Long Service Medal, retiring to his home at Redcar during June, 1942. McWilliam passed away in 1951.

Gazza's debut for Spurs - at St. James' Park!

An icon of his generation, Paul Gascoigne joined us from Newcastle United in the summer of 1988 - then made his debut back at St. James' Park in the opening game of the 1988/89 season - a 2-2 draw on 3 September, 1988, with fellow Geordie Chris Waddle joining Terry Fenwick on the scoresheet.

Born in Gateshead, Gazza is one of the greats of the modern era, a box to box midfielder with a bit of everything, a footballing genius. Having starred for England at the Italia 90 World Cup, taking on superstar status in the process, he delivered time after time on our journey to FA Cup glory in 1991, no more so than his 35-yard free-kick that sailed past David Seaman in our semi-final win against Arsenal. Gazza was famously injured in the final as we came from behind to beat Forest.

He moved on to Lazio in Italy and then had spells at Rangers - where he won the lot at Ibrox under Walter Smith - and the likes of Everton, Middlesbrough and Burnley before retiring in 2004.

Clare Hunt helped Australia make it two wins out of two over New Zealand in this international window on Tuesday morning.

Returning to the starting line-up for the Matildas, having been an unused substitute in the clash last week, the defender started and completed 90 minutes in her nation’s 2-0 win over the Football Ferns.

Two former Spurs players were on the scoresheet for the home side in Adelaide, as Alanna Kennedy fired them ahead in the first half before Hayley Raso wrapped up the victory 20 minutes before the end.

The result builds momentum for Joe Montemurro’s side ahead of next year’s Asian Cup, which will begin in March, 2026, in Australia.

Meanwhile, fellow defender Toko Koga was an unused substitute for Japan in their 1-0 win over Canada in the early hours of this morning.

Clare Hunt helped Australia make it two wins out of two over New Zealand in this international window on Tuesday morning.

Returning to the starting line-up for the Matildas, having been an unused substitute in the clash last week, the defender started and completed 90 minutes in her nation’s 2-0 win over the Football Ferns.

Two former Spurs players were on the scoresheet for the home side in Adelaide, as Alanna Kennedy fired them ahead in the first half before Hayley Raso wrapped up the victory 20 minutes before the end.

The result builds momentum for Joe Montemurro’s side ahead of next year’s Asian Cup, which will begin in March, 2026, in Australia.

Meanwhile, fellow defender Toko Koga was an unused substitute for Japan in their 1-0 win over Canada in the early hours of this morning.

Fans have the chance to help Tottenham Hotspur Foundation make double the impact in our local communities this Christmas – with all donations made in the next week to be DOUBLED.

As part of the Big Give match funding campaign, all donations made to the Foundation through this link from today, Giving Tuesday, until midday on 9 December will be doubled through funding from the Club and the Reed Foundation.

This will support the Foundation’s life-changing work for residents of Haringey, Enfield and surrounding London boroughs – some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in England – go twice as far.

Last year, over 13,000 people benefited from more than 10,500 hours of targeted programmes.

Polly Banks, Foundation fundraising manager, said: “Behind these numbers are real lives transformed.

“Take Liam, a young Spurs fan with cerebral palsy. For years, he struggled to join in with boys his age until he discovered the Foundation’s new cerebral palsy football team where everything changed.

“It gave him a place to belong, to play the sport he loves, and earlier this year, he even scored a hat-trick in a cup final. His mum says she’s never seen him so happy and none of this would have been possible without the Foundation.

“Every pound you give means more opportunities like this, from award-winning cancer rehab sessions and girls’ sport provision to mental health support and pathways into employment for young people, and so much more.

“By donating this week and doubling your support, you’re not just helping create these opportunities, you’re contributing to a legacy of positive change that benefits us all.”

For every £1 invested, the Foundation generates £10.38 of social value. This calculation measures the true impact of the Foundation’s work – not just in financial terms, but by looking at the positive effects on individuals, the community and the environment.