---
title: "Alderweireld- Why I joined Spurs over Saints"
canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2015/09/06/alderweireld-i-joined-spurs-saints/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Emery"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2015-09-06T10:00:32Z"
modified: "2015-09-06T10:00:32Z"
---

# Alderweireld- Why I joined Spurs over Saints

Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld was quoted in [The Express](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/603105/Tottenham-Toby-Alderweireld-Southampton-Atletico-Madrid-Transfer-News-Gossip) as to the reasons behind his much talked about and controversial switch to London.

Alderweireld spent last season on loan to Southampton from Atletico Madrid and made a huge impact. He played 26 times for the Saints last season and put in a number of impressive performances at the back next to skipper Jose Fonte in the Premier League.

![Clint Hughes/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/09/468782544.jpg)

It was widely expected that he would join Southampton on a permanent basis as there was a deal in place that allowed Southampton to purchase the defender following the completion of the loan.

However, Atletico seemed to have gone against their word by accepting an offer from Tottenham and not Southampton. A very controversial decision that at one point looked like Saints were going to take legal action. They didn’t and Alderweireld joined Spurs for £11.5m.

“It was not only up to me,” Said the Belgium international.

“Atletico had to make a deal with a club and they said ‘we have a deal with Tottenham’

“I said ‘I’m very happy with that’. My Belgium team-mates helped a little bit, but it was not the main reason to move here.

He then explained how he could enjoy deadline day.

“It was nice to move earlier than deadline day. The last couple of years were very stressful for me and this time I could sit on the couch and watch it!”

So it seems as though it was mainly Atletico Madrid that denied Southampton from being able to sign the Belgian.

Southampton have since signed defenders Steven Caulker on loan from QPR and Virgil Van Dijk from Celtic for over £10m.