Bissouma leads 12-player Tottenham exodus as De Zerbi reshapes squad for new season

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the departure of 12 players on July 1 as the club draws a line under a turbulent season that saw them finish 17th in the Premier League under three different managers.

The most significant exit is Yves Bissouma, whose contract was allowed to expire without a renewal offer. The Mali international joined Spurs from Brighton in the summer of 2022 for £30 million and made 111 appearances at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but a difficult final campaign — disrupted by knee and ankle problems that kept him out for the entire first half of the season — effectively ended his time at the club. He made just 11 appearances after returning in January and was an unused substitute in each of Spurs’ last three Premier League matches.

Tottenham confirmed the news with a brief post on X: “We can confirm the departure of Yves Bissouma following the conclusion of his contract. Thank you for your service and all the best for the future, Biss.”

Also leaving on a permanent basis is Argentine striker Alejo Veliz, who completed a £7.7 million transfer to Brazilian side Bahia on July 1 after a season-long loan at Rosario Central. The deal was announced by Bahia on June 26.

The remaining ten departures come from Spurs’ academy. Six Under-21 players — Pele Arganese-McDermott, Tyrell Ashcroft, Leo Black, Dante Cassanova, Matthew Craig and Calum Logan — have all left following the expiry of their contracts. Four Under-18 players have also departed, among them Elijah Upson, who turned down a contract offer from the club, alongside Jamel Beggs, Samal Bangura and Leon Myrtaj.

The clear-out reflects the influence of head coach Robert De Zerbi, who took charge as Spurs’ third manager of the season and guided the club to safety, finishing just two points above 18th-place West Ham. De Zerbi has moved quickly to reshape the squad, with Tottenham already confirming the arrivals of Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth, Andrew Robertson from Liverpool, Martin Dubravka from Burnley, and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton in a £52 million deal.