There were smiles all around Hotspur Way as James Maddison signed the deal that would keep him at Tottenham for at least the next five years.
This is because the North London club has a large number of admirers of the 26-year-old England international. It all starts with chairman Daniel Levy, who regarded him as a fan-pleasing statement signing and ends with Ange Postecoglou, who sees him as the ideal match for his system.
Then there’s Fabio Paratici, who we discovered this week is still working as a consultant for Spurs, and top scout Leonardo Gabbanini, who both have high regard for Maddison. There are also the players, many of whom are familiar with the former Leicester midfielder and have seen firsthand the havoc he can inflict on the opponent.
In his last three Premier League appearances against the North London club, the midfielder has scored three goals and contributed one assist. Tottenham’s players will be overjoyed to have him on their team from now on.
Maddison was heavily considered as a signing last summer, but it was eventually agreed that under Antonio Conte, the Italian’s formation did not allow for the then-Leicester man through its center, making a much higher fee difficult to justify for a player who might end up on the bench more often than not. Maddison will be an important cog in Postecoglou’s machine.
Maddison’s entrance in the white threads of the new Tottenham Hotspur shirt signals the end of a long, long period of attention, dating back to his formative seasons at Coventry City more than eight years ago. Tottenham has kept a close eye on the midfielder whenever he moves clubs for one reason.