Millwall confirm Japhet Tanganga loan signing from Tottenham Hotspur

The 24-year-old joins the Championship side on the back of a forgettable loan spell with Bundesliga side Augsburg, with whom he failed to make a single appearance in the first half of the 2023-24 campaign.

After spending the opening weeks of the season recovering from a knee injury, Tanganga was an unused substitute in a 1-1 draw with Koln on November 4 but did not make another matchday squad for Augsburg.

As a result, Tottenham exercised their right to recall the defender from Germany before sending him to Millwall, who are not believed to possess an option or obligation to make his stay permanent.

"I'm very happy [to be at Millwall]. I've not played much football recently, so it was important for me to pick the right club," Tanganga told Millwall TV+ after penning his contract.

"The opportunity to come here presented itself, to work with someone I've worked with before and also been against when he was at Chelsea, so it was the best option for me to come here and be a part of Millwall. Fans will see me competing and giving 100% first and foremost. My style is aggressive and on the front foot and to give everything for the fans and the club."

Head coach Joe Edwards has previous experience working with Tanganga, who donned the England colours at youth level while the former was in the Under-20s backroom staff, and the pair celebrated Toulon Tournament success together in 2017.

"I'm really pleased to get Japhet in the building," Edwards added. "I've always followed his progress and watched keenly when he broke into the Spurs first-team. He's played in some big games and done really well in them. I then faced him whilst working for Chelsea, so I was well aware of how he kicked on after I worked with him.

"For us to be able to bring a player of his pedigree, who has played in the Premier League and Champions League, into the club is pleasing. He's a defensive player, right-sided and athletic, so he makes us better."

Finally, Director of Football Operations and Recruitment Alex Aldridge added: "We are really pleased to bring Japhet in. Going into January we felt that centre-back was an area of the squad we would look to strengthen if the right option became available to us and Japhet expressed a strong desire to come to Millwall.

"Japhet is hungry and motivated to play games, he has some excellent attributes as a defender and has played at a very high level with Tottenham Hotspur, so we feel he is a really positive addition and we look forward to working with him."

Tanganga has made 50 senior appearances for Tottenham since coming through their youth academy, recording one assist in that time and playing 27 times in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old - who joined the Spurs academy ranks in 2009 - made his breakthrough under Jose Mourinho but quickly fell out of favour under Antonio Conte, featuring on just seven occasions for the Lilywhites in 2022-23.

Tanganga - who is under contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for another 18 months - could make his Millwall debut on Saturday, as the Lions travel to face Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

The former England Under-21 youth international is the seventh player to depart Tottenham on loan in January after Alfie Devine, Ashley Phillips, Djed Spence, Eric Dier, Sergio Reguilon and Matthew Craig.