Conor Gallagher explains Tottenham transfer reasons after Thomas Frank phonecall

Conor Gallagher has completed his £34.7million move to Tottenham and in doing so has returned to the Premier League

Conor Gallagher has claimed it was a 'very easy' decision to join Tottenham Hotspur. The 25-year-old midfielder, who has signed a long-term contract with the Lilywhites, had also attracted interest from Aston Villa.

It's understood that Thomas Frank and Gallagher had a chat on the phone as the Spurs boss attempted to persuade the midfielder to return to London.

At the time, Aston Villa also wanted to sign the former Chelsea favourite and were in talks with Atletico Madrid in an attempt to sign the player in an initial loan move this month with an option to make it permanent in the summer.

But following the news that Rodrigo Bentancur is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Spurs stepped up their chase to sign Gallagher on Monday and eventually agreed a £34.7million deal with Atletico.

The England international has now completed his move and signed a long-term contract with the north London club. He has now explained his reasons behind the move.

In an interview with club media, Gallagher said: "I'm so happy and excited to be here, taking the next step in my career at an amazing club. I wanted to be a Spurs player and thankfully the Club felt the same.

"It was very easy, it happened very quickly and I'm ready to get on the pitch. I know how great the fans are, I’m really happy to be a part of it here and want to create special moments and memories together."

Meanwhile, Frank said: "Conor is a top midfielder, who we have worked tirelessly to add to our squad. He is still young, so has plenty of room for improvement, but also has huge experience across the Premier League, La Liga and with the England national team.

"Conor has captained teams so will bring leadership, maturity, character and personality to our dressing room, while his running power, pressing ability and eye for goal will strengthen us in a key area of the pitch.

"I’m excited about working with him every day and I know the fans will love what he will bring to the team."

As revealed by football.london on Sunday, Atletico Madrid were prioritising selling the midfielder permanently this month rather than a loan with an option or obligation to buy in the summer.

Spurs' decision to commit to an immediate purchase has been instrumental in helping them beat Villa in the race for the midfield maestro's signature.

While other clubs showed interest, they were hesitant to commit to a permanent deal this month, preferring instead a loan-to-buy option.

The acquisition of Gallagher by Spurs is a significant setback for Villa, especially given Unai Emery's current shortage of midfield options due to injuries to Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley.

For the north London outfit, it's a morale-boosting signing as they look to bounce back from a dismal winter period. They have managed just two wins in 12 Premier League games, leaving them languishing in 14th place.

Gallagher had found regular first-team action hard to come by under Diego Simeone this season, making just four starts in LaLiga, but has now completed his return to England.

With a fresh start for the midfielder, he's keen to impress Thomas Tuchel and secure his place in England's World Cup squad this summer.

Before his move from Chelsea to Atletico in the summer of 2024, Gallagher enjoyed a successful stint in the Premier League, making a name for himself during an outstanding loan period at Crystal Palace in the 2021-22 season.

He returned to Stamford Bridge as a crucial first-team player and even wore the captain's armband for the Blues before being nudged towards the exit in a £33m move to Spain.

He has made 136 Premier League appearances, having also had a loan spell at West Brom prior to his standout season at Palace, and has netted 18 goals and provided 13 assists.

At 25 years old, he still has much to contribute and will bring a wealth of experience to a team in need of a significant lift.