Matt Doherty: Decision to join Tottenham a 'no-brainer'

Irish defender joins from Premier League rivals Wolves for a reported fee of £14.7 million

(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 1, 2020 Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga (L) reacts as Wolverhampton Wanderers' Irish defender Matt Doherty celebrates after scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London/ Tottenham on Sunday, August 30, announced the signing of defender Matt Doherty from Premier League rivals Wolves for an undisclosed fee reported to be £15 million ($20 million). - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / AFP / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.

Matt Doherty, seen here celebrating scoring against Tottenham on March 1, 2020, has joined the North London club from Wolves on a four-year contract. AFP

Steve Luckings author image
Steve Luckings
Aug 30, 2020
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Matt Doherty says the decision to join Tottenham Hotspur was a "no-brainer" after joining from Premier League rivals Wolves for a fee or around £14.7 million (Dh72m).

The Republic of Ireland defender, 28, penned a four-year contract with Jose Mourinho's side on Sunday to become Spurs' third major signing of the transfer window after midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and goalkeeper Joe Hart.

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"I'm extremely happy ... I'm very proud to be joining such a big club," Doherty told Spurs' website. "With the size of the club ... and the manager, once I knew there was interest it was a no-brainer for me to get myself down to London."

Doherty made over 300 appearances for Wolves after joining from League of Ireland side Bohemians in 2010, who will receive 10 percent of the transfer fee.

"My time at Wolves was fantastic - I haven't got a bad word to say about the whole club at all. I just feel like coming here is going to take my game and my career to the next level," Doherty added.

Doherty, a self-confessed "huge Arsenal fan", poked fun at himself on the club's Twitter page, which posted a video of the defender looking visibly uncomfortable as he deleted old posts in which he professed his love for Spurs' bitter North London rivals.

The North London club have been keen to bolster the right-back position after selling academy graduate Kyle Walker-Peters to Southampton and the erratic form of Serge Aurier last season.

Doherty helped Wolves to consecutive seventh-place finishes and was a vital part of Nuno Espirito Santo's side as they reached the quarter-finals of last season's Europa League.

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Spurs finished sixth in the top flight last term - ahead of Wolves on goal difference - and reached the last 16 of the Champions League.

Elsewhere, Juventus have signed United States international midfielder Weston McKennie on a one-season loan from German club Schalke with an option to buy at the end of the campaign.

The Turin club, who sealed a ninth straight Serie A title last month, will pay €4.5 million for the loan period and up to €25.5 million more if they decide to make the move permanent.

The versatile 22-year-old started his career in the youth system at FC Dallas before moving to the Schalke academy as a teenager, going on to score five goals in 91 appearances for the Bundesliga side.

"The agreement we have made with Juventus is the most financially beneficial for Schalke and the most attractive sporting move for Weston," Schalke's Head of Sport Jochen Schneider said.

"Obviously deciding to let go one of our most talented players like Weston is partly down to the financial state the club is in."

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