Newcastle United’s summer transfer activity continues to make headlines, and not always for the right reasons. Newcastle United’s search for a new star midfielder suffered a setback after Tottenham Hotspur rejected an opening bid for Lucas Bergvall. The pursuit of the 20-year-old Swedish midfielder has quickly developed into one of the most intriguing transfer sagas of the window — one that involves rejected bids, a player eager to leave, a club suddenly desperate to raise funds, and a twist that suggests Newcastle may not have been the ones who made the first move.
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The Bid — What We Know
According to The Athletic, Newcastle submitted an offer worth around €54 million (£46 million) for the Sweden international, but Spurs immediately turned it down.
David Ornstein confirmed: “Newcastle United make offer to sign Lucas Bergvall from Tottenham Hotspur. Proposal for 20-year-old midfielder £46m; turned down. Tottenham rejected all bids so far — Nottingham Forest’s bid was lower and others were higher than Newcastle’s — but will consider a sale at the right price.”
There is, however, a significant twist to the story. According to Lee Ryder, Tottenham Hotspur’s financial situation is understood to have changed after splashing out on signing Tonali from Newcastle United. Newcastle were offered Bergvall by Tottenham as they look to drum up funds.
Spurs have spent almost £200m on two midfielders in the shape of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, while over £50m was also forked out to bring defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Player | Lucas Bergvall |
| Current Club | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Interested Club | Newcastle United |
| Newcastle Bid | £46m (approx. €54m) |
| Bid Status | Rejected |
| Contract at Spurs | Until June 2031 |
| Age | 20 |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Position | Central Midfielder |
| Shirt Number at Spurs | 15 |
Why Newcastle Want Bergvall
The Magpies have been looking to strengthen the middle of the pitch following Sandro Tonali’s departure, and it looks like Bergvall emerged as the new Eddie Howe’s number one target despite knowing Tottenham’s reluctance to sell.
Sandro Tonali has already left, incidentally, to join Tottenham themselves, and Bruno Guimaraes has agreed personal terms with North London rivals Arsenal. That represents two enormous midfield losses in a single window, making the search for reinforcements in the engine room an urgent priority.
Newcastle were interested in Bergvall before he joined Spurs from Djurgarden in 2024. The Magpies have tracked the Swede for some time, and their interest is genuine and long-standing.
On the other hand, it looks like the Magpies are intent on building a youth-focused squad this summer. Bazoumana Toure, Ewen Jaouen and Sean Steur have been signed, and the oldest of these three is 20 years of age. Bergvall at 20 fits that profile perfectly.
Bergvall’s Stance — He Wants Out
Bergvall, while under contract until 2031, has already informed Spurs that he wants to leave this summer in search of more regular playing time. The Athletic first reported the midfielder’s desire to move in June, and interest has continued to grow from clubs in both England and across Europe.
It is quite easy to see why a 20-year-old midfielder like Bergvall would be weighing up a potential exit this summer rather than risk finding himself spending all season on the bench, as a rotational option at best.
The highest proposal financially is from Nottingham Forest, but Newcastle can offer a very competitive project and also ambitions. There is a conversation ongoing with both clubs. It remains to be seen what Bergvall decides to do.
Who Is Lucas Bergvall?
Lucas Erik Holger Bergvall, born 2 February 2006, is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Sweden national team.
Born and raised in Stockholm, Bergvall advanced through the academy of IF Brommapojkarna, where he was part of the winning team of the 2019 U13 Madrid Football Cup, beating youth teams from the academies of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona.
Heavily scouted in his youth, Bergvall participated in trials at Juventus, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich during his time at Brommapojkarna.
Growing up, Bergvall supported Manchester United and participated in two trials with the club in 2020 and 2022 but was unable to join following regulations that were imposed on English clubs after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, which prevented them from signing foreign under-18 players to their academies.
Career Club History
| Club | Years | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| IF Brommapojkarna | 2022 | Superettan debut |
| Djurgarden | 2022 – 2024 | Joined Dec 2022 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2024 – Present | 78 appearances, Europa League winner |
Bergvall made a storming start to his Spurs career in 2024-25. The Sweden international featured 45 times in his first season, including 27 appearances in the Premier League and 12 of their 15 matches on the way to UEFA Europa League glory against Manchester United.
However, there was late heartbreak — Lucas picked up an injury before the first leg of the UEL semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, ruling him out for the rest of the season. Lucas signed a new, long-term deal in April and his performances were also recognised by the fans as he was named Official Supporters’ Clubs Player of the Season and took both Player of the Season awards from One Hotspur Members and One Hotspur Juniors.
2025-26 Season Stats
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 23 | 1 | 3 | 965 |
| UEFA Champions League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 375 |
Bergvall made 33 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring once and adding five assists before an ankle injury sidelined him between January and March.
He became the second-youngest Tottenham player to score and assist in a Premier League game.
International Career
On 14 June 2026, he made his World Cup debut for Sweden against Tunisia at the age of 20 years and 132 days, becoming the youngest Swedish player to appear in a World Cup, surpassing Jesper Blomqvist’s previous record from 1994 by two days.
Lucas is a senior Sweden international, making his debut against Estonia in January 2024. He has also represented his country at Under-21, Under-19 and Under-17 levels.
Bergvall comes from a football-centric family. Both his older brother, Theo, and his younger brother, Rasmus, are also professional footballers.
Honours
| Trophy | Club | Year |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA Europa League | Tottenham Hotspur | 2024-25 |
| Superettan | IF Brommapojkarna | 2022 |
Throughout his career, Bergvall has won three titles: J.League World Challenge (2024) and Europa League (2024-25) with Tottenham Hotspur, and Superettan (2022) with Brommapojkarna.
Where Does the Deal Stand Now?
Luke Edwards of The Telegraph reported on Saturday that the Bergvall deal will not progress at the moment. Newcastle are not currently interested in the asking price as things stand, while other deals are lined up with the focus on those.
The Magpies are working under financial constraints at the moment and might end up falling behind other clubs if there is a race to sign the Swede from Tottenham.
Twice this summer, Newcastle have seen their move hijacked at the very last moments. The Magpies had agreed a fee to sign Victor Munoz from Osasuna before being gazumped by Liverpool, and it was a similar story with Manzambi before Aston Villa jumped in.
Nottingham Forest could yet come back into the picture following their £38m bid for Bergvall, which was not enough for Tottenham.
Read More: Official: Francisco Trincão Joins Al Ahli for €40m — Sporting CP Bid Farewell After 208 Appearances
FAQs
How much did Newcastle United bid for Lucas Bergvall?
Newcastle submitted an offer worth around €54 million (£46 million) for the Sweden international, but Spurs immediately turned it down.
Why does Lucas Bergvall want to leave Tottenham?
It is quite easy to see why a 20-year-old midfielder like Bergvall would be weighing up a potential exit this summer rather than risk finding himself spending all season on the bench, as a rotational option at best.
How long is Lucas Bergvall’s contract at Tottenham?
Bergvall, 20, is under contract until 2031 at Tottenham, but will be allowed to leave North London this summer for the right price.
Is Nottingham Forest also interested in Lucas Bergvall?
The Magpies had an opening proposal worth £46 million turned down, with the Swede keen to leave Tottenham this summer. Nottingham Forest are also heavily interested and have had an offer of their own rejected, with there being an expectation that they will return.
Why is Tottenham willing to sell Bergvall despite initially rejecting all bids?
Tottenham Hotspur’s financial situation is understood to have changed after splashing out on signing Tonali from Newcastle United. David Ornstein’s report goes on to state that an exit would be considered if the figures reach a level they deem suitable.
