Another signing for Tottenham Hotspur Women! Yesterday, the club announced the acquisition of Dutch central defender Caitlin Dijkstra, who most recently played for Wolfsburg until the expiration of her contract this summer.
I’ll confess to not knowing much about Caitlin. I know she’s 27, a full Dutch international with 35 caps. I know she’s a solid
defender, and that the club needs defensive reinforcements after the departures of Charli Grant, Josephine Rybrink, Amy James-Turner, and Luana Bühler. Dijkstra is an experienced defender and was a reulgar for Wolfsburg this season in both the league and Champions League. It’s no secret that Spurs have Champions League ambitions and signing a player with CL experience is very good.
Based on the few highlight videos I’ve seen of her, she looks like solid defensive depth, something Spurs will need. They’ve got their starting defensive line more or less sewed up with Toko Koga and Clare Hunt, but Dijkstra has a pedigree that suggests she could push one or both of them for starts. If Caitlin is “solid but unspectacular”, well that’s a good outcome. And if she forces one of Hunt or Koga out of the lineup, well… that’s even better, because it means Spurs are continuing to improve and are signing players that will push those currently in the starting XI.
Spurs manager Martin Ho has promised that the club will be working hard to make improved signings and that the club will be highly active. They’ll need a solid window, especially after the departure of Bethany England, the club’s all-time leading goal scorer and club captain. I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of announcements of new signings this summer.
Welcome to Tottenham, Caitlin!
