Tottenham agree deal to sign Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to sign Chelsea centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo on a permanent transfer, according to David Ornstein.

He is now set to undergo a medical with Spurs, and personal terms have already been agreed.

The 28-year-old is set to become their ninth signing of the summer as Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi continues to reshape his squad.

Adarabioyo gives Spurs another experienced option at centre-back, after Kevin Danso indicated that he wants to leave the club.

Adarabioyo has now made 116 Premier League appearances across Manchester City, Fulham and Chelsea.

Interestingly, this is the first direct first-team move between Tottenham and Chelsea since 2009.

Mykhailo Mudryk is also poised to join Tottenham on loan from their London rivals in a separate deal.

Adarabioyo has been deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge after struggling to establish himself as a regular under Xabi Alonso.

He has not been included in any of Chelsea’s first three matchday squads this season, despite making eight Premier League starts last term.

Adarabioyo is another unexciting Tottenham signing

However, while Adarabioyo offers Tottenham another body in defence, he is not a signing that can transform De Zerbi’s team.

He looks very much in line with a summer recruitment drive that has been heavy on quantity but light on genuine ceiling-raisers.

Adarabioyo is an experienced Premier League defender, but calling him imposing would be a stretch.

The new Tottenham star has the frame and height you would expect from a dominant centre-back.

Still, he does not consistently translate those physical advantages into winning duels or bullying opposing forwards.

He is not the kind of defender who makes attackers think twice before entering his zone.

At 28, there is barely any room for a major improvement either.

Spurs are essentially buying a solid, functional player rather than someone capable of elevating the level of the XI.

There is a reason their rivals are so comfortable letting him leave.