Tottenham Hotspur has activated a clause in Joe Rodon’s contract, extending his stay until the end of the 2024-25 season, according to Alasdair Gold of Football.London.
Fans might be puzzled by this decision, considering Rodon’s recent loan to Leeds United, which ended unsuccessfully as Leeds failed to secure promotion to the Premier League. Additionally, Rodon doesn’t appear to be part of manager Ange Postecoglou’s plans for the upcoming season. So, why did Spurs make this move?
The answer lies in financial strategy. Rodon had an impressive season with Leeds, earning recognition as one of the Championship’s top defenders. Tottenham believes this performance has increased his market value, enabling them to secure a transfer fee if they sell him. If Rodon’s contract had expired at the end of June, he would have become a free agent, leaving Spurs with no financial gain.
By exercising the extension clause, Tottenham ensures that any club interested in Rodon must pay a fee for his transfer. This might appeal to Leeds or other Championship clubs, or perhaps even recently promoted teams. If no club agrees to pay, the worst-case scenario for Spurs is loaning Rodon out again and letting him leave on a free transfer later, which would have been the case next month anyway.
Given Rodon’s solid performance and his status as a starting international for Wales, this move seems like a calculated risk. Extending his contract doesn’t mean Rodon will stay at Tottenham; rather, it boosts the likelihood of Spurs recouping some of their investment by securing a transfer fee.
