IRELAND'S MATT DOHERTY and Tottenham Hotspur yesterday both agreed to mutually terminate his contract to join Spanish giants Atletico Madrid on Deadline Day.
Since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderer's in 2020 the 31-year-old had fallen out of favour under Antonio Conte and had just made 15 appearances for the north London club this season.
We have mutually agreed to the termination of Matt Doherty’s contract to enable him to join another club. — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 31, 2023
Thank you for everything, Doc 💙
The Dubliner has now signed a deal with the Spanish club until the end of the season.
The move was set to be a loan until the end of the season, but to due to a FIFA loan limit rule, he could not join the Madrid without ending his contract at Spurs.
Doherty's departure would have taken Tottenham up to nine players out on loan and FIFA's limit is eight.
Fellow fullback Djed Spence became their eighth player on loan after he moved to French side Rennes on a deal until the end of the season.
The 22-year-old joined Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele, Bryan Gil, Joe Rodon, Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso, and Destiny Udogie out on loan and in doing so made it impossible for Doherty to move abroad.
With Spurs securing the signing of Pedro Porro from Sporting CP on Tuesday, it meant that his time was up at the club
A statement on the Spurs website read, "We have mutually agreed to the termination of Matt Doherty’s contract to enable him to join another club."
"Signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2020, the Republic of Ireland international made 71 appearances for us in all competitions, scoring three goals."
"We should like to thank Matt for his service and wish him well for the future."
The Ireland player also posted a message via Atletico's Twitter account, "I'm very excited. Once I had kind of notification that this was possible, it's extremely difficult for me to reject it," added the Ireland fullback
Doherty will not be the first Tottenham right-back to join Atletico after Kieran Trippier made the same switch in 2019, before returning to England to sign for Newcastle last year.
❝I'm very excited. Once I had kind of notification that this was possible, it's extremely difficult for me to reject it❞. — Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 1, 2023
— Matt Doherty 🎙 pic.twitter.com/FHebJZTD4Z
