Following months of speculation, Kevin Wimmer himself announced he had agreed terms with Tottenham at the weekend, stating: “I am going to Tottenham, it is the next step in my development.”
Wimmer reportedly flew into London following his last game for Köln, at home to second place Wolfsburg, on the 23rd May. The 22-year old is expected to have completed his medical before agreeing a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee (thought to have been around the five million pound mark).
The Austrian will join up with the rest of the Tottenham squad once they complete their post-season tour to Australia, where they face Sydney FC on Saturday 30 May.
The signing of an international centre back at such an early stage in the transfer window shows the faith chairman Daniel Levy has in manager Mauricio Pochettino. Levy has developed a reputation of being a late mover in the market with the hope of finding bargains in late August, just days before the window closes.
Despite scoring 58 goals last season, the most outside the top four in the division, Tottenham conceded a staggering 53 goals, more than relegated Hull City. Questions surround the futures of fellow centre backs, club captain Younes Kaboul and Romanian international Vlad Chiriches with both deemed surplus to requirements.
Wimmer was involved in 31 blocked shots in last season’s Bundesliga, a league high, and will be expected to continue his rapid development as a footballer at the London club. Having moved to Köln in 2012 from Austrian side LASK Linz, he will now challenge for a starting role at Tottenham with seasoned professionals such as Jan Vertonghen and Federico Fazio.