Joao Palhinha discusses Tottenham potential and why some players won't have good memories of him

Joao Palhinha believes Tottenham have the potential "to do something really special" after completing his move from Bayern Munich. The midfielder's switch to north London was confirmed late on Sunday evening, with the Portugal international joining on loan for the 2025/26 season with an option to make the move permanent next summer.

Palhinha was a huge hit during his two seasons with Fulham and he could be the man to help solve Tottenham's long-standing issue at the base of their midfield. His loan switch to Tottenham does see him reunite with a couple of his former teammates in Mathys Tel and Pedro Porro following his time with them at Bayern Munich and Sporting CP respectively.

Palhinha sees a lot of potential in Thomas Frank's Tottenham team and he is determined to achieve "some really good things" for his new club.

"Of course, I have a few players who I’ve played with before – Mathys Tel, Pedro Porro – and other players I have played against in the Premier League," the new signing told Tottenham's official website. "Probably some of them will not have such good memories of me on the pitch! We had some duels together but I’m just really happy to be here and meet my new teammates.

"Personally, I just want to play, to show again what I am capable of doing here in the Premier League and at this top club. As a collective, as a team, I just want to try to win titles. I think that we have all the potential here to do something really special.

"Of course, it's not easy, we all know that this is the most competitive league in the world but with all the potential that we have in the team, I’m really motivated to try to achieve some really good things for this club.

"The crowd motivates me as well. I think the moment, in my case, when I make a tackle and I feel the crowd pushing me, I don’t have words for this because it's what gives me a lot of power and it's really special here in the Premier League from the crowds. I just want to experience in our stadium the people pushing me and my teammates in each tackle we make."

Palhinha earned rave reviews at Fulham but his switch to Bayern Munich last summer did not go to plan, making a total of 25 appearances for the German side and only starting six times in the Bundesliga. He is now back home in the Premier League, a league he believes suits his qualities down to the ground.

"I think my type of game, it belongs to the Premier League," added the 30-year-old. "I've always said that I really enjoyed the two seasons that I had at Fulham, it was a dream come true and probably one of the best memories I have in my football career belonged to the Premier League. I really enjoyed playing against top teams, also against Tottenham in that moment and now I can be part of this, such a great club.

"I'm a player with a lot of hunger to win tackles, as you know. It's one of my main focuses in the game, to try to help my teammates without the ball to recover as soon as possible and of course when we have the ball, try to play simple, to try to give the team the best options. If I need to choose a word to describe me, it's going to be a 'hungry' player for sure."

On his move to Tottenham, he said: "I'm really, really happy. It's such an amazing feeling that I had when I arrived here at the training ground and I'm really motivated for the next steps, so I just want to enjoy it with my teammates, start to work with the coach and start to win matches with this club.

"It's an amazing feeling to return to the Premier League and to return to London as well. I really loved to live here before and I'm so happy to be here again and to enjoy the Premier League because in my opinion – as I've always said – it's the best league in the world. It's what me and my family wanted at this moment and I'm really happy for this."

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