Matt Doherty is set for one of the shock moves of the January transfer window, with the Irish wing-back set to switch London for Madrid.
The Spurs man has struggled for regular game time this season under Antonio Conte and, with the club set to bring in Pedro Porro on the closing day of the January window, he now appears to have sealed a loan move abroad.
According to reports on Tuesday morning, Doherty is set to join Atletico Madrid on loan until the end of the season.
Matt Doherty: Irish wing-back set for switch to Atletico Madrid
Sky Sports News shared news on Tuesday morning that Matt Doherty would be joining Atletico Madrid on a straight loan deal until the end of the season, with no obligation on the Spanish club to buy Doherty at the end of his loan spell.
BREAKING: Matt Doherty is set to join Atletico Madrid on loan. 🇪🇸
BREAKING: Tottenham's deal to sign Pedro Porro will be an initial loan deal with an OBLIGATION to buy. ⚪🚨 pic.twitter.com/hmraQ7Alkf— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 31, 2023
The news was also reported by universally trusted transfer aficionado Fabrizio Romano.
Atlético Madrid are set to sign Matt Doherty on loan deal from Tottenham, here we go! Agreement in place — no buy option clause included. 🚨⚪️🔴 #Atléti #THFC
Medical booked for Doherty who’s set to leave as Porro will join Tottenham — first call, @marca. pic.twitter.com/k07mYlCiuU— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2023
The move comes with Spurs reportedly on the verge of bringing in Spanish right-back Pedro Porro from Sporting Lisbon, increasing the competition for Doherty in an already competitive position. With Emerson Royal and Djed Spence already present at Spurs, Doherty would face a serious fight to take the upper hand in the right-back battle at the club.
Doherty has only played the full 90 minutes three times in the Premier League this season, and has only made 12 appearances in the competition. His only goal of the season came in a 4-0 win at Crystal Palace earlier in January.
Despite his drop in regular game time, Atletico Madrid is nonetheless a surprising destination for Matt Doherty. Diego Simeone's side have dropped off somewhat since 2020-21's La Liga title victory, but remain in the Champions League places halfway through the Spanish league season.
The Dubliner will have only Argentinean right-back Nahuel Molina to contend with for a starting XI place at Atletico Madrid. Stephen Kenny and Ireland will hope that this will bring more regular game time for Doherty, ahead of March's friendly against Latvia and crucial EURO 2024 qualifier at home against France.
Matt Doherty to Atletico Madrid will enter the annals as one of the great "under the radar" transfers, and Irish fans will be keen to keep tabs on how the ex-Bohs and Wolves man fares in La Liga over the coming weeks. He could make his debut at home against Getafe next Saturday evening.
We can only hope that the Spanish commentators fare better pronouncing Doherty's name than the English do.
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