Gareth Bale returns to Tottenham Hotspur Updated for January 2025

Updated: 20th January 2025

Gareth Bale returns to Tottenham Hotspur; Spurs re-sign Real Madrid forward on loan / Wolves winger Diogo Jota moves to Liverpool for £41m

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has returned to his former club Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan from the La Liga champions.

The 31-year old Wales international who had moved to Madrid in 2013 on a then record-breaking £85m deal landed in London on Friday along with team-mate Sergio Reguilon who is also joining Spurs for a reported fee of £32m.

The agreement between Spurs and Madrid for Bale is worth around £20m, an amount that covers a loan fee and part of the Welshman's wages.

Frustrated by a lack of playing time given to him by Zidane, Bale came close to a move to China last year before Real somehow blocked it.

His relationship with Zidane came to such a head that he was asked not to travel with the squad for the Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Manchester City in August.

Bale featured in just one La Liga fixture for Real after the tournament resumed post the Covid break in July and was conspicuously muted during the team's celebrations on becoming Spanish champions.

Former Spurs and England midfielder Danny Murphy was quoted saying;

Jota moves to Liverpool for £41m

Meanwhile at Anfield, after a lacklustre transfer season the Reds have suddenly sprung to life with late signings of Diago Jota from the Wolves and Thiago Alacantra from Bayern Munich.

While Liverpool spent £20million in bringing over Thiago fron the Bundesliga and European champions, they shelled out £41m for Wolves' ace Portuguese winger-cum-forward Jota that will see him stay at Anfield on a five-year deal.

Meanwhile Thiago was already in Merseyside on Friday, undergoing a routine medical check and going through in-house media duties later that afternoon.

The Spanish international, with his ability to sit deep and essay passes to all parts of the pitch is expected to foil well with Fabinho in the midfield while 23-year old Jota's speed on the wings will provide serious depth to the Liverpool attack that already has the fab three in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

While Jota arrived at Anfield, 18-year-old Ki-Jana Hoever went the other way to join the Wolves.

Commenting on the Jota deal, Wolves coach Nuno Espirito Santo said;

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