Spurs confirm record signing Alice Sombath has ruptured her ACL

Spurs Women's record signing ruptured her ACL in Saturday's north London derby against Arsenal and will undergo surgery.

Tottenham Hotspur Women confirmed on Tuesday that Alice Sombath has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, sustained during Saturday's 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 23-year-old French defender was stretchered off shortly after half-time in what was her first Women's Super League start since her summer move from Lyon, where she spent six seasons and won the Champions League in 2021.

Sombath arrived at Spurs in July as the club's record signing. Her first months in England were disrupted by a minor knock in pre-season, and she made her debut away at Crystal Palace in September before the derby injury. The club's medical staff will discuss next steps with the player before she undergoes surgery and begins rehabilitation. No return timescale has been given, though ACL injuries typically sideline players for well over six months.

The injury leaves Spurs short of centre-backs, with Clare Hunt and Maite Oroz already long-term absentees. Head coach Martin Ho will likely call on Amanda Nildén and Caitlin Dijkstra to cover alongside Tōko Koga. The setback also impacts France's plans ahead of next summer's Women's World Cup in Brazil, where Sombath's availability is now in serious doubt.