Tottenham announce signing of Stambouli; Holtby heads to Hamburg
Tottenham have announced the signing of Benjamin Stambouli from Montpellier.
A fee was agreed for Stambouli on Saturday and the 24-year-old midfielder completed his switch to White Hart Lane on Monday after passing a medical. The former France Under-21 international is Spurs' sixth signing of the summer after the arrivals of Federico Fazio, DeAndre Yedlin, Ben Davies, Michel Vorm and Eric Dier.
Tottenham tweeted: "SIGNED! We have completed the transfer of Benjamin Stambouli from Montpellier." While one midfielder arrived, another was on his way out of White Hart Lane as Lewis Holtby completed a season-long loan move to Hamburg.
SIGNED! We have completed the transfer of Benjamin Stambouli from Montpellier. #WelcomeBenji pic.twitter.com/jrjwhU3J0T
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 1, 2014
Holtby signed for Spurs in January 2013 from Schalke but has struggled to establish himself in the starting lineup at White Hart Lane. A six-month loan spell at Fulham last term proved unsuccessful as the Cottagers were relegated to the Championship and manager Felix Magath criticised the 23-year-old's attitude.
Mauricio Pochettino's arrival as Spurs head coach offered renewed hope for the midfielder, but, despite a promising pre-season, Holtby has not started any of the club's three Barclays Premier League matches so far. Holtby has scored one goal for Tottenham in 25 league appearances.
Hamburg's director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer told hsv.de: "Lewis has great passing ability and he is going to do us good with his creativity.
"He's just 23 but he already has a great deal of experience in the Bundesliga, the Premier League as well as in Europe and he should now bring that experience here with him."
Hamburg started the season with a 0-0 draw at Cologne and a 3-0 home defeat to Paderborn at the weekend. That loss has turned up the heat on coach Mirko Slomka, who successfully saved them from relegation via a playoff last season.
