Tottenham Hotspur have secured French defender Benjamin Lenglet on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season, with interest in bringing him back permanently.

The transfer was announced by Tottenham's sporting director Rafa Benitez on Thursday evening. The 25-year-old has been one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe this summer and is valued at around £45 million.

Lenglet has made 16 appearances for Barcelona this season, playing alongside Gerard Piqué and Lionel Messi. He has also represented France at international level, making 29 appearances for his country.

According to reports, Tottenham will pay a fee of £18 million for the loan deal. However, they are reportedly interested in bringing Lenglet back permanently as a long-term signing.

Benitez said: "We are delighted to bring Benjamin Lenglet back to our club. He is a top-class defender who can play both inside and outside the box and we believe he will be a key player for us in the coming seasons."

Barcelona have not yet commented on the news of the loan deal, but it is expected that they will be disappointed by the departure of such a talented player.

With Lenglet now at Spurs, they look set to strengthen their defensive ranks ahead of the Premier League season. The club have already signed several new defenders, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kyle Walker-Petersen, and they will need to continue to add to their squad to compete with other top clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea.