Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that they have mutually agreed to the termination of Matt Doherty’s contract to allow him to join La Liga side Atletico Madrid.
football.london reported on Tuesday morning that Doherty was closing in on a loan move to Atletico following fellow wingback Djed Spence's loan move to Ligue 1 outfit Rennes with Pedro Porro joining from Sporting CP. Doherty's loan move to Atleti was originally supposed to be a straight loan with no option or obligation to buy, football.london understands.
However, there is a FIFA ruling that meant a temporary exit wasn't possible, with clubs only permitted to send out a maximum of eight players on loan per season - a quota that Spurs have already filled. Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele, Bryan Gil, Joe Rodon, Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso, Destiny Udogie and the aforementioned Spence have all left the north Londoners on various loan deals over the last seven months, meaning that Doherty would have to leave on a permanent basis in order to sign for Diego Simeone's side this month.
READ MORE: Bryan Gil explains exactly why he left Tottenham to join Sevilla on loan
The FIFA regulations state: "From 1 July 2022 until 30 June 2023 A maximum of 8 players loaned out A maximum of 8 players loaned in between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023, a club can loan OUT eight players during a registration period and then loan OUT another (different) set of eight players in the second registration period of the same season, provided there are never more than eight loans OUT at any time during the relevant season.
Doherty arrived in N17 from Wolves back in August 2020, going on to make 71 appearances across all competitions, netting three times and providing a further nine assists in the process.
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