Matt Doherty’s Transfer to Atletico Madrid
In 2023, defender Matt Doherty moved from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid, with Tottenham not receiving any transfer fee due to a lesser-known FIFA rule that resulted in his contract termination.
Initially, Tottenham sought to loan Matt Doherty to Atletico Madrid on the transfer deadline day two years earlier, but a FIFA regulation mandated the termination of his contract. Doherty had joined Spurs for £14.7 million from Wolves in 2020.
Doherty, who performed well as a right-wing back at Molineux, was acquired by Tottenham under manager Jose Mourinho for approximately £15 million five years ago. He became a notable squad player during his tenure at Spurs.
After three years in a Spurs jersey, a surge of new signings, including Pedro Porro, rendered Doherty expendable. With 71 appearances, three goals, and nine assists, his future looked bleak at Tottenham, prompting Atletico’s interest.
On the deadline day in January 2023, Doherty was on the verge of signing a loan deal with no purchase option, but a FIFA rule complicated matters. Clubs had a limit on loaning out senior players, which had already been fulfilled by Tottenham.
This restriction led to Doherty’s contract termination, allowing him to join Atletico Madrid on a free transfer. FIFA had established new regulations limiting international player loans per club, capping the number at eight, which later was reduced to six for players over 21 or not trained by the club.
Doherty had a short stint at Atletico, playing only twice before returning to the Premier League with Wolves on a three-year contract. Upon his return, Wolves’ former sporting director expressed excitement about his arrival and emphasized his potential impact and familiarity with the club.
