Japhet Tanganga has opened up on his Tottenham exit(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

I still follow Tottenham despite leaving in the summer and I'm sure they will win a trophy

Japhet Tanganga has opened up on his Tottenham farewell after leaving Ange Postecoglou's side on a permanent basis in the summer to join Millwall

09 Oct 2024, 11:00 by Rob Guest · football.london

Japhet Tanganga has put his injury hell behind him to get his career back on track at Championship side Millwall. Coming through Tottenham's academy to make 50 senior appearances for the north London club, the versatile defender ended his long association with the Lilywhites in the summer.

Tottenham announced at the beginning of June that Tanganga would be one of four players to depart Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the conclusion of his contract. Previously linked with a move to Serie A and having enjoyed such a successful loan spell with Millwall at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, the 25-year-old's next move was very much up in the air.

At the start of July, Tanganga was officially confirmed as a permanent Millwall player after penning a long-term contract at The Den. The former England Under-21 international had excelled in his loan spell with the Lions, starting 17 of his 18 appearances after initially not playing a single game for German side Augsburg during the first part of the campaign because of injury.

Tanganga has so far played in seven of Millwall's nine games this season, with the player missing the first two Championship fixtures following his red card on the final day of last campaign at Swansea City. Very much a new start for him after his previous Tottenham injury woes, Tanganga has revealed that his final day as a Spurs player was "difficult" but he is convinced that his ex-teammates will reach and final and win it sooner rather than later.

“Tottenham will always be my first home and will have a special place in my heart," said the defender in an interview with Gianluca Di Marzio. "I had already accepted the decision to leave and look for continuity, but the day of the farewell was still difficult.

“And in fact, now I continue to follow them, I cheer for my former teammates, and I know that sooner or later they will return to a final and win it, they deserve it.”

Tanganga had some rotten luck during his time with Tottenham due to a catalogue of different injuries. An extremely challenging time for a footballer, the former Spurs man looks back at them as "gifts of God".

"Injuries are tough times for a footballer. You see the team training and you are still. I often wondered why my body kept falling apart," said Tanganga. "But even if it may seem strange, from my perspective they were gifts. Gifts of God

“Now I feel good: I returned to Millwall in the summer after six months on loan to feel like a protagonist. The fans are incredible, their love was a decisive factor in my choice. They sing at the top of their voices: it’s one of the most beautiful atmospheres in England."

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