Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed a familiar loan move for the 2025/26 season, as one youngster returns to his 2024/25 stomping ground.
Tottenham Hotspur have already completed some outgoings this summer, including the £1 million sale of Josh Keeley to Luton Town and the £17 million sale of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Marseille.
Reports earlier in the week had indicated that Tottenham were considering loan moves for several of their youngsters, particularly those who did not feature in Thomas Frank’s first pre-season outing against Reading.
Frank fielded two separate elevens on Saturday, 19 July, with experienced first-teamers and returning loanees taking centre stage. Notably absent from the squad were George Abbott, Yang Min-Hyeok and Ashley Phillips.
Tottenham confirm Ashley Phillips loan to Stoke City, again
Tottenham Hotspur have now officially confirmed the departure of centre-back Ashley Phillips, who had only just returned from a loan spell this summer.
Phillips spent the entirety of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Championship side Stoke City, making 39 appearances in central defence and contributing one goal.
It is now confirmed that the 20-year-old will return to Stoke City for the 2025/26 season, once again on a season-long loan.
Phillips loan move hints at Spurs pecking order
The young defender is yet to make his senior debut for Spurs, although he has been named in the matchday squad on eight occasions since progressing through the academy.
Phillips previously had a loan stint at Plymouth Argyle, where he made 20 appearances for the League One outfit.
With Tottenham opting to loan out the England Under-20 international once more, it is clear that he is being earmarked for continued development elsewhere, particularly as there is no shortage of options in central defence, with up to seven centre-backs currently on the books in North London.
His move could hint at one of Kota Takai or Luka Vuskovic being handed a chance to remain in the Tottenham first-team squad during the 25/26 campaign.
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