Tottenham has loaned Palhinha for €7 million, with a €30 million option to buy, covering his full salary.

Fans joke that Arsenal is Chelsea's backup, as the Blues sell unwanted players to the Gunners; meanwhile, Tottenham acts as Bayern's backup, stepping in to take players that Bayern struggles to manage, minimizing the losses for the southern giants.

Tottenham officially announced on Monday that they have loaned 30-year-old Portuguese international midfielder Palhinha from Bayern. According to German media outlet Bild, details of the deal are as follows:

• Loan fee: €7 million for one season.
• Optional buyout: €30 million.
• Tottenham covers the full salary: an annual salary of €8.5 million, with bonuses that could reach up to €10 million.

Palhinha has performed exceptionally well over two seasons in the Premier League with Fulham. He transferred to Bundesliga giants Bayern last summer for a fee of €51 million, but due to incompatibility with Kompany's tactical system, he hardly played. Seeing this as a significant loss, Bayern was relieved when Tottenham stepped in to take him, effectively solving a major problem for Bayern.

At 30 years old, Palhinha stands 1.90 meters tall, is a right-footed player primarily playing as a defensive midfielder, and has a contract with Bayern until 2028, with a transfer market valuation of €30 million. Last season, Palhinha made 24 appearances for Bayern across all competitions, with only 9 starts, totaling just 941 minutes on the pitch; he appeared only once in the 2025 Club World Cup, being substituted at halftime.