Who is Tottenham’s new signing Emerson Royal?

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a deadline day deal, bringing in Brazilian full back Emerson Royal from Barcelona. The deal will be Nuno Espirito Santos’s third permanent transfer of his Spur’s reign which will also give the team more competition at that right-back spot.

All English Premier League

Born in Sao Paolo, 22-year-old Royal began his career in his native Brazil, bouncing around academy programs before eventually landing up at now second division side Ponte Preta.

In 2017, at the age of 18, Royal made his debut for Ponte Preta. Despite the side being relegated, the young Brazilian would become a regular in the first team in the following season.

Royal would then spend a season back in the top-flight of his native country’s football with Atletico Mineiro before getting his big move to Europe.

In January of 2019, the youngster moved to Real Betis in a joint deal between Betis and Barcelona, in which both teams paid half of the transfer fee and retained a percentage of his economic rights. The deal meant that Royal would play for Betis, but Barcelona held the option to reacquire the player for half the cost.

Royal would go on to make 79 appearances and score 5 goals for Betis before Barcelona exercised their option for the player.

Spurs will be getting a rather raw player but one who knows how to use his physical attributes. He is strong in the air, loves to get involved in hard tackling and has the pace to intercept passes from the opposition’s midfield.

Where the player struggles is with his discipline and often picks up a number of cautions per season. Royal is a young player who has a high ceiling and can be moulded into a strong defender as he finds his footing in the Premier League.

What Emerson Royal brings to North London

The club is on a quest to bring back a more expansive and entertaining style of football to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They want to be more attacking and judging by their opening three games, it’s not really the case.

They’ve won all three opening Premier League games, collecting six points from the six available. However, all of their victories have been by one goal and a clean sheet, despite one of those games against a winless Wolves and a newly-promoted Watford.

This is part of the reason Spurs want Emerson Royal. He offers a more aggressive and attacking brand of football and should be challenging for a place in the starting XI all season long. Also, with others arranged to exit before the window shuts, he could be the long-term solution at right back.

The deal should be completed on deadline day.

Tottenham’s done deals

Joined the club

Pierluigi Gollini Loan
Bryan Gil
Cristian Romero
Pape Matar Sarr

Left the club

Danny Rose Free
Paulo Gazzaniga
Enock Asante
Chay Cooper
Keenan Ferguson
George Marsh
Rodel Richards
Jack Roles
Aaron Skinner
Kazaiah Sterling
Shilow Tracey
Juan Foyth
Erik Lamela
Toby Alderweireld
Troy Parrott
Kion Etete Loan
Joe Hart
Jubril Okedina
Dennis Cirkin
Alfie Whiteman Loan
TJ Eyoma
Pape Matar Sarr Loan
Moussa Sissoko