Tottenham's boost: Pelova arrives as Spurs chase points

Tottenham Hotspur have secured the services of Dutch international midfielder Victoria Pelova on a free transfer after her contract with Arsenal expired. The 27‑year‑old joins the Lilywhites, ending a three‑and‑a‑half‑year spell with the Gunners where she added two Conti Cups to her résumé.

Tottenham identified Pelova as a player with top‑level experience and intelligence, fitting their ambition in the Women's Super League after achieving their highest points tally last season. The club also reinforced the squad with Kirsty Hanson and Shekiera Martinez, fresh from West Ham, signalling a broader recruitment drive.

At Arsenal, Pelova partnered with Kim Little and Lia Wälti, featured 21 times in the second half of the 2023 campaign, scoring her first goal in her second appearance and providing six assists. She helped the Gunners win the Conti Cup against Chelsea and repeated the feat the following season with eight goal contributions.

An ACL injury in June 2024 sidelined her until March 2025, after which she returned to a squad that captured a second UEFA Women’s Champions League title in May. Limited minutes after her comeback prompted Pelova to seek a fresh challenge with Tottenham.

“It feels nice to be here, I had a lovely welcome from everyone,” Pelova said on joining Spurs. She added that conversations with Martin Ho felt immediately right and she is happy to be at the club.

Spurs Head Coach Martin Ho described Pelova as “a brilliant signing… who brings real quality, intelligence and top‑level experience.” He expects her understanding of high‑pressure environments to help the team evolve further.

Pelova began at ADO Den Haag, finishing second in the club’s scoring chart at 18, before moving to Ajax where she played alongside Caitlin Dijkstra and Lize Kop. She has earned 71 caps for the Netherlands, featuring at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, two European Championships and two World Cups, including the 2019 edition where the Dutch were runners‑up to the United States.