Tottenham Hotspur-linked Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez is close to joining French club Marseille
Tottenham Hotspur’s main focus in the final weeks of the summer transfer window is expected to be on improving their attacking options.
Spurs were dealt with a double blow last week when they lost Son Heung-min to Los Angeles FC and James Maddison to a long-term knee injury. A torn ACL has ruled out Maddison for the majority of the upcoming season, leaving Thomas Frank’s side without a genuine creative midfielder. Dejan Kulusevski is also on the sidelines and will miss the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
In addition to a No.10, reliable journalist Alasdair Gold claims that the Hotspur Way chiefs also have the signing of a new central defender on their agenda before the transfer window slams shut. Tottenham were interested in Malick Thiaw, but recent reports suggest he is going to Newcastle United. This has forced the North Londoners to look elsewhere.
Tottenham keen on Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez
According to an exclusive report from TBR Football, Tottenham are among some clubs being kept informed about Joel Ordonez, as Ligue 1 side Marseille look to seal a deal for the Club Brugge defender. Liverpool, Aston Villa and Chelsea all remain keen too.
Considered one of the best young defensive prospects in Europe, Joel Ordonez has cemented his spot in the Club Brugge XI with consistent performances since arriving from Club NXT in 2023. The Ecuador international was on the radar of several Premier League clubs last season, and while he stayed at Club Brugge, they have continued to monitor his progress ahead of a potential move this summer.
As things stand, though, Marseille are on the cusp of signing the 21-year-old, so if any club wishes to sign him from Club Brugge, they have to stump up more money, and most importantly, quickly.
“Ordonez is a huge talent, I am told by numerous Premier League clubs that this boy is held in huge regard – he is one of those players that not just shows up analytically but when you watch him, he really is a standout performer,” revealed exclusively by TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey.
Spurs must hijack Marseille’s move for the Club Brugge star
Tottenham will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season, where an injury crisis ruined their Premier League campaign. Former boss Ange Postecoglou was not able to field a senior centre-back pairing, with Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven sidelined for several months. Additionally, Radu Dragusin sustained an ACL injury at the end of January and remains out for the foreseeable future, while Ben Davies is past his prime and not expected to feature regularly.
This makes the addition of a centre-back extremely important, and Ordonez fits the bill perfectly. Strong in the air, tenacious in the challenge and good on the ball, the Ecuadorian has the attributes to cut the mustard in the Premier League. At 21, he can be viewed as a potential long-term successor for Romero, whose contract at N17 expires in 2027.
A defender with huge ceiling, Spurs must attempt to hijack Marseille’s deal for the Club Brugge star.
