Tottenham defender signs new contract extension through 2019

It’s not the Tottenham Hotspur defender that we wish would sign a new contract, but it’s something! The club announced today via its social media channels and on its website that 20-year old Spurs defender Anton Walkes has signed a new contract that will keep him a Tottenham Hotspur player through the 2018-19 season.

Walkes has spent the year on loan at MLS debutant club Atlanta United, and has played in 18 matches for Atlanta so far this year, scoring two goals.

It’s been a bit of an up and down season for Walkes as he’s regularly played at right back for Atlanta, a position that he’s still learning and that he’s kind of ill suited for. But he’s getting invaluable first team experience which will serve him well in his future career, and the Atlanta supporters I know say that he has improved his game this season.

It’s a bit hard to say that has a shot of cracking the Tottenham starting lineup anytime soon, so the cynical view is that this new Spurs contract is a means to eventually get a better fee for him when he’s sold. But regardless, it’s nice recognition that he does have a future in professional football.

Walkes is currently 7500 miles away from Pochettino, and there’s no official Poch-arm-around-the-shoulder image to display, so instead here’s a crappy photoshop that you can pretend is the real thing. Congrats, Anton!