Real Betis president Ángel Haro has confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur have secured a future agreement to sign Johnny Cardoso, with the 22-year-old midfielder recognized for his ‘extraordinary’ performances. This announcement comes amid a backdrop of recent activity between the two clubs in the summer transfer window.
During the recently closed transfer window, Tottenham and Betis engaged in two significant deals. Giovani Lo Celso completed a permanent move back to Betis, where he had previously enjoyed a productive stint, netting 16 goals and contributing six assists in 45 appearances. Tottenham had initially acquired Lo Celso from Betis for £27.2 million, but they faced a financial reduction when transferring him back for £10 million.
On transfer deadline day, Tottenham confirmed Lo Celso’s return to Betis, and their strong relationship with the Spanish club allowed Spurs to secure a preferential option to sign rising La Liga star Johnny Cardoso. Despite joining Betis only in January, Cardoso, who represents the USA but has strong Brazilian roots, has quickly become an integral part of their squad.
Reports suggest that Tottenham can exercise their option to sign Cardoso for a fee between €25-30 million (£21-25 million / $27-33 million). Haro spoke about the transfers in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, emphasizing Cardoso’s appeal to multiple top clubs and his promising potential. He explained that, as part of the Lo Celso transfer, an option to purchase Cardoso was included, which was deemed valuable and intriguing from Betis’s perspective.
Betis’ sporting director, Manu Fajardo, added his praise for Cardoso, highlighting his exceptional performance and the positive impact he has had on the team. He noted that Tottenham’s option to buy Cardoso would meet Betis’s expectations financially if it were activated.
European football expert Andy Brassell also provided insight on Cardoso’s profile. He pointed out that Cardoso, although born in the US, has been deeply integrated into Brazilian football from a young age and that his dynamic and aggressive playing style would be a good fit for the Premier League. Brassell suggested that Cardoso’s ability to engage physically and his enthusiasm for tackling would suit Tottenham’s needs well.
If Tottenham decides to exercise their option to buy Cardoso, the former Internacional player will face competition for a starting midfield position from established Spurs players such as Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, Archie Gray, and Rodrigo Bentancur.