Tottenham are expected to announce the arrival of Souza after the Brazilian youngster was spotted in the Tottenham Hotspur dressing room following Saturday afternoon's defeat to West Ham. The 19-year-old defender, who looks set to become Thomas Frank's second signing of the January transfer window, announced his departure from Santos shortly after the game.
football.london understands that Souza landed in the United Kingdom on Wednesday to put the final touches on a £13m transfer. The Brazilian has completed his medical, and now had a look around his new home.
On Saturday evening following the West Ham defeat, Souza all but confirmed his move to Hotspur Way on Instagram. He wrote: "After 10 years of defending this shield, the time has come for a new challenge.
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"The last year was intense, of growth and overcoming, but even in the difficult moments, I felt the affection and support of the Santista cheerleading. This will never be forgotten.
"I walk out with my head held high, grateful for all that I have experienced and for the certainty that this story was built with truth. Thanks for everything, Santos is a pride that not everyone can have!"
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Tottenham signed Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth almost £35m earlier this week, and it proved fairly simple to complete. A move for Souza, however, has required far more paperwork.
According to reports in Brazil, Santos did not hold 100 per cent of his rights, with a percentage owned by the player himself. The teenager supposedly signed over his share to the Brazilian outfit in order to get a deal over the line.
The Premier League does not allow third party ownership of player's registration rights, with 100 per cent required to be owned by the club. Tottenham have also been working hard to make sure Souza get a work permit through the UK government and their stringent points system.
Those who don't meet the standard Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points threshold can get special exemption through the Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) pathway, created for promising young overseas players to get a work permit.
The Lilywhites will be expected to make an announcement soon. Frank will be looking to return to winning ways on Tuesday night when Tottenham host Borussia Dortmund in their penultimate game of the UEFA Champions League 'league phase'.
As it stands, it remains to be seen whether or not the tie comes too soon for Souza. Failing that, the teenager will hope to make his debut on Saturday when Burnley host Spurs at Turf Moor – so long as he's registered with the Premier League by midday on Friday and the other relevant paperwork goes though.
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