Forgotten Man Victor Wanyama Joins MLS Side Montreal Impact From Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur have announced the surprise mid-season departure of Victor Wanyama to MLS side Montreal Impact.

Since arriving at the helm, Spurs boss José Mourinho had made it clear that the Kenyan midfielder was surplus to requirements in north London despite his four seasons of service.

While ​a January move failed to materialise, Spurs have now announced that the player has joined the Canadian side with the MLS season only just under way on the other side of the pond.

​An statement on ​Tottenham's official website said: "We have reached agreement with Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact for the transfer of Victor Wanyama.

"We wish Victor well for the future."

The 28-year-old made 97 appearances for ​Spurs in all competitions, scoring seven times. He will go down in the club's history as the man who scored the opening goal in the final game at White Hart Lane.

The defensive midfielder had seemed destined to depart Tottenham in the summer, having played just four times across all competitions this season - with his last action coming way back in December in a 3-1 defeat away at ​Bayern Munich in the ​Champions League group stage. In those appearances he racked up a measly 122 minutes.

However, the north London club has managed to strike a deal with the team from Quebec and he will head for Canada immediately to join up with his new teammates.

Mourinho explained the midfielder's lack of minutes back on deadline day, saying: "If he is not playing it is because in my eyes, and that is always different but in the end always the head coach that makes the decisions.

"In my eyes I see more the team going to the future with young Winks, English, young, national team player. I see more the team going in that direction.

"A great investment on Tanguy Ndombélé which sooner or later has to arrive to certain levels of performance."

Some Tottenham fans may question the timing of the deal given the lack of quality in depth the side currently possesses in midfield, but the player himself will see it as the right time to move to pastures new.

Speaking after the move, the Kenya international said: "I think the Saputo family and the management team in Montreal have a great plan in place and I am hoping I can make a great contribution to the success of this project.”