Tottenham had to cancel £15m star's contract on dramatic deadline day due to FIFA rule

Spurs terminated Matt Doherty's deal in 2023 thanks to a FIFA rule (Image: Getty)

Tottenham had plans to loan defender Matt Doherty to Atletico Madrid on deadline day two years ago, but a FIFA rule meant his contract had to be terminated instead.

Doherty, who flourished at Molineux as a right-sided wingback, was brought to Tottenham by then-manager Jose Mourinho for roughly £15million from Wolves five years ago and quickly became a squad player.

However, three years after signing his initial deal with Spurs , the imminent arrival of Pedro Porro from Sporting CP made Doherty surplus to requirements. After making 71 appearances, scoring three goals and providing nine assists, his time in north London seemed to be coming to an end, and Atletico showed interest.

On January deadline day in 2023, Doherty looked set to make a temporary switch to Spain, with no buy-option included. But a FIFA rule put a stop to the move. Clubs were only allowed to loan out a maximum of eight senior players, and since this quota had already been filled, Doherty's deal was terminated before he signed with Atletico on a free transfer .

In 2022, FIFA introduced new regulations that would limit the number of international loans in and out of football clubs. Clubs were restricted to eight loan exits, with any club-trained players or players under the age of 21 exempt.

This rule is still in effect today. However, the figure has been reduced from eight individuals to six, and it still only applies to those who are over 21 or not club-trained, reports the Mirror .

Doherty failed to impress Mourinho after being bought for £14.7m (Image: Getty)

This new regulation thwarted Doherty's potential switch to the Spanish capital, as Spurs had already sent out Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele, Bryan Gil, Joe Rodon, Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso, Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie on loan at the time of his proposed departure.

To join Diego Simeone's outfit, Doherty needed to make a permanent transfer, and the sole option was to cancel his contract. Antonio Conte's squad did precisely that, allowing him to arrive in La Liga as a free agent.

Doherty's stint in Spain proved remarkably brief. He featured just twice for Atletico before becoming available on a free transfer again the subsequent summer. From there, Doherty made his way back to the Premier League with his previous club, Wolves, penning a three-year agreement.

The club's former sporting director, Matt Hobbs, declared upon Doherty's homecoming: "We're really happy Matt's back and he's one the manager really wanted when he knew he was available.

"After Spurs and Atletico Madrid, he's hungry to prove himself again, and will add strength in depth to the full-back area, providing competition and making us better in those positions.

"He knows the club and what it means to play here – he's been successful at Wolves before and knows what the fans want," added Hobbs, who departed the club only this summer.

"For us, it's another homegrown player, but one who can share his knowledge and the required standards across the group, so he will be able to slot back in no problem."

Just over three years after his last match for them, Doherty made his Wolves comeback during an EFL Cup match against Blackpool in August 2023. The 33-year-old is still at Molineux, with his present contract set to run out in 2026.