TOTTENHAM ANNOUNCE PLAYERS LEAVING THE CLUB THIS JANUARY AS RETAIN LIST IS CONFIRMED

Tottenham Hotspur’s January 2025 Retained List: Five Players Confirmed to Leave Amid Fan Backlash
Tottenham Hotspur have officially confirmed their retained list for the January 2025 transfer window, announcing the departure of five players as manager Thomas Frank continues his squad overhaul.
This comes hot on the heels of a humiliating 4-1 defeat to rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby on November 23, 2025, at the Emirates Stadium, where Eberechi Eze—ironically a summer signing Tottenham had targeted but lost to Arsenal—netted a stunning hat-trick to pile on the misery for Spurs supporters. Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for Arsenal, with Richarlison’s consolation goal doing little to soften the blow for Frank’s side, who sit mid-table and face mounting pressure to salvage their season.
Frank, who took over from Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2025 following Tottenham’s Europa League triumph the previous season, has adopted a “ruthless” approach to reshaping the squad. The club won the Europa League in early 2025 under Postecoglou, but a poor start to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign—capped by the derby thrashing—has accelerated changes. 6 High-profile summer arrivals like Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, and Joao Palhinha have brought flair and steel to the midfield, but defensive frailties exposed by injuries to stars like Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Guglielmo Vicario have left gaps that Frank aims to address in January.
The Five Players Leaving in January
The retained list confirms the following players will depart on free transfers, loans, or permanent deals at the window’s opening on January 1, 2026 (noting the UK football calendar aligns with the 2025/26 season). These moves are part of a broader “axe” to trim the squad and free up wages for reinforcements, particularly at center-back and in goal. 2 3
1 Fraser Forster (Goalkeeper, 37): The veteran backup shot-stopper’s contract expires in January. Having featured sporadically during Vicario’s injury layoff earlier in the season (managing just one clean sheet in seven league appearances), Forster has been deemed surplus. Talks of a January exit were rumored mid-season, but he’s now confirmed out. A move to a Championship club or retirement is likely.
2 Ben Davies (Defender, 32): Tottenham’s longest-serving player since joining from Swansea in 2014, Davies’ deal also runs out next month. Hampered by the club’s ongoing injury crisis at the back, he’s struggled for consistent starts under Frank’s high-pressing system. Fans are divided—many see him as a loyal servant, but his release signals a youth-focused rebuild.
3 Ryan Sessegnon (Winger/Full-back, 25): After a promising start to his Spurs career, injuries and competition from the likes of Destiny Udogie have sidelined him. His contract expiry forces a departure, with interest from mid-table Premier League sides and clubs abroad. This one has sparked fury among supporters who view it as premature, given his potential.