Tottenham Hotspur have officially confirmed the signing of Portuguese midfielder João Palhinha on an initial loan deal from Bayern Munich. Spurs will cover the 29-year-old’s full salary during his stay in North London.

The agreement includes a €30 million buy option, though it is not mandatory, giving Tottenham the flexibility to assess Palhinha’s impact before committing to a permanent transfer. Known for his tough tackling and defensive awareness, Palhinha is expected to add steel to Ange Postecoglou’s midfield.

Palhinha joined Bayern from Fulham last summer but struggled for regular game time in Germany. His move to Spurs offers a return to the Premier League, where he was widely regarded as one of the division’s top ball-winners during his time at Craven Cottage.