Micky van de Ven nears new five-year Tottenham contract

Micky van de Ven is close to finalizing a new five-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur. The Dutch international defender has been part of a turbulent period in north London, but the appointment of Roberto de Zerbi in March changed the picture. De Zerbi, who helped keep Spurs in the Premier League, was crucial in the 25-year-old's decision to commit to new terms. Van de Ven joined Tottenham from Wolfsburg in 2023 on a six-year deal that runs through 2029. He had been weighing up his future before De Zerbi took over, but the club's direction under the Italian coach convinced him to stay. "It's really good that you can see the club has made some changes," Van de Ven said in July. "You can see the club has a new ambition. It's something that's really important for players who have been here for a long time." Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons, and the club's top-flight status was not secured until the final day of the 2025-26 campaign. A stretch of three managers in nine months made it a draining spell, and Van de Ven admitted the mood needed lifting. "Last season was a stressful season, unacceptable from our side, so to leave all of that behind and go into the new season fresh means a lot," he added. With De Zerbi in charge, the defender expects a brighter and more entertaining style. "It's going to be different compared to the manager we had last season," he said. "It's also going to be more enjoyable for people to watch because we'll be playing offensive football. It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down."