We all know the story of Tanguy Ndombele. Never able to make it work at Tottenham Hotspur for a multitude of reasons, he joined a small handful of supremely talented players who were never quite able to turn that talent into something meaningful and lasting in a Lilywhite kit. Released by the club by mutual consent at the end of the 23/24 season after a couple of mixed loans, it’s been unclear what his next steps would be… until now.
Tanguy has returned to his home country of France, and to Ligue 1, where he initially made his name. It’s OGC Nice who have taken what you could call a “calculated risk” in signing the mercurial midfielder, with the Frenchman being Les Aiglons’ first signing of the transfer window.
In a statement on their website, the club president Jean-Pierre Rivere (seriously, is there a more French name?) and sporting director Florian Maurice described Ndombele as “charming”, “talented”, “determined”, “in the prime of his career”. The latter two haven’t always been clear to see as Tanguy struggled to show his best on the pitch over the last couple of years, but it seems he’s been working hard to get to a level where he can continue to play professional football. The Nice brass acknowledge this, also alluding to some of the struggles he has had over the last few years, declaring: “It’s up to us to give him the ideal framework to fully show his qualities.”
Look, I hope this is what Tanguy wants. I’m sure many wondered if a continued career in professional sport was even on the cards; but a motivated Tanguy Ndombele is a joy to watch on the football field. I hope he’s found his happiness, and I hope he finds his way back to his best. Farewell, Tanguy. It just wasn’t to be.