Credit: Breaking Media

Jacob Raw

Thu 7 May 2026 18:30, UK

James Wilson looks destined to return to Hearts following a truly bizarre loan move to Tottenham Hotspur in the winter transfer window.

The Lilywhites signed the young striker from Hearts, as he struggled for game time in the first part of the season with the Jambos.

The 19-year-old has been playing for Spurs’ U21s, and the club had a £2.5million buy option at the end of his contract.

According to Edinburgh News, the forward is set to return to Hearts following the expiration of his contract with Tottenham.

Tottenham had an uninspiring January window, and the arrival of James may go down as one of the most questionable decisions in the club’s history.

James Wilson’s loan was odd from all parties

Wilson joined Spurs wanting to play regular football, but at his age, he should have been seeking first-team chances.

He was never going to get that in N17, but the idea of signing him on loan to then make it permanent this summer made sense.

However, it seems like the Lilywhites will not exercise the £2.5m buy option, despite rivalling Arsenal for the teenager’s signature.

Wilson could be headed back to Tynecastle Park as early as next week, but even then, he won’t be allowed to play any first-team football with Hearts.

The number nine is said to be keen on playing first-team football next season, so the chances of Spurs signing him are low, regardless of what division they are in.

All things considered, this will go down as a transfer that wasted the club’s precious time, as it clearly had no future reward in it either.

How is Johan Lange still in a job?

Even if Spurs stay up, major summer changes are needed with Roberto De Zerbi at the helm, and that’s not just to do with the players.

Spurs are in this mess because of managerial decisions made by the higher-ups, with transfer business also being questionable, highlighted with James.

Tottenham added just one senior signing to their ranks in January with Conor Gallagher, and even the multi-million-pound addition of Souza seems strange.

Lucas Bergavall is the only youngster that the club have signed in recent years who has produced, which makes Johan Lange look even more like a fool for wasting his time in January.

There’s been zero winning at all with James’ signing, and it never looked to be a move that made sense.

Lange needs to go this summer, before things get even worse.