Ben on new deal: “There is no more exciting time than right now to be at this Club”
Mon 25 July 2022, 15:15|
Tottenham Hotspur
It seems like only yesterday that Ben Davies joined us in Toronto for our US/Canada tour. That was the summer of 2014. Eight years and 271 appearances down the line, off the back of arguably his best season in a Spurs shirt, he’s extended his contract until 2025.
As the super-consistent Wales international defender puts it himself: “The story continues...”
Now 29, Ben had just turned 21 when he made the switch from Swansea alongside goalkeeper Michel Vorm. He made his debut against Toronto FC at BMO Field on 24 July, 2014. Signed as a left-back, Ben fought it out with Danny Rose for the position over the next six years, then with Sergio Reguilon through 2020/21.
Antonio Conte’s arrival and the switch to his preferred 3-4-3 system signalled a new role for Ben, playing on the left side of a defensive three, an opportunity he grasped with both hands.
His 43 appearances in all competitions in 2021/22 represented his best campaign yet, starting 34 of 36 matches after Antonio’s arrival in November, including 26 of 27 Premier League games. He lined-up in our last 27 matches as we secured fourth place and a return to the UEFA Champions League next season.
At the same time, Ben, capped 77 times by Wales, played a huge part as The Dragons qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar via a play-off victory against Ukraine in June – the first time they’ve made it to the finals since 1958.
No wonder he’s in a good place at the moment. “I’m delighted to sign my new contract,” he told us. “After last season and the summer this Club has had, there is no more exciting time than right now to be at this Club. I felt that I had a pretty good season last year, I enjoyed my football and when the opportunity came from the Club to extend my contract, I was more than happy to do so.”
Ben’s new deal takes him to 2025 – 11 years as a Spurs player. “I could never imagine being here that long when I was a youngster and I signed,” he reflected. “I’ve had some really enjoyable times here, it really feels like home now and like I said, the story continues.
“It’s a significant amount of time in football, especially when a career is quite short and, in football, people move around a lot. It’s an honour for me to be here and to keep it going.
“There is still a good core of us who have been here a very long time now, the same faces not just in the team but around the building every day, it becomes a family. We’ve got a great group here, not just on the pitch, but as a collective. It’s a very exciting time and a season we’re all looking forward to.”
