"I'm so happy and I can feel the trust from the club," Antonín Kinský told independent.co.uk after signing a new deal at Tottenham. The timing is what gives the contract real weight. A goalkeeper who was substituted inside 17 minutes after two glaring errors in a Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid has finished the season with public backing from Roberto De Zerbi and a longer stay in north London.
The collapse and the response
Kinsky's worst night came quickly. He was hooked inside the opening 16 minutes, listed elsewhere as 17 minutes, after those mistakes against Atletico Madrid. The exact scoreline of that tie is disputed across reports, so the safer point is the important one: it was a brutal setback, and Peter Schmeichel's reaction at the time reflected how badly it looked.
What followed was a proper response rather than a quiet reset on the bench. Kinsky featured in all seven of Tottenham's final matches and played a crucial role in keeping the club in the Premier League. He also ended the campaign with a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Everton on the final day.
That run is the strongest argument for why Spurs have moved now. This is not a contract being handed out on projection alone. It came after a late stretch in which Kinsky got back in the side and stayed there.
De Zerbi's backing carries weight
Roberto De Zerbi did not use careful, non-committal language when the deal was announced. He told independent.co.uk: "Toni was outstanding over the final seven games of the season and a key part of what we achieved in that period. I am delighted he has committed his future to the club.
"He has earned this new contract, not only with his performances but also his professionalism and desire to improve. We have huge belief in what Toni can become. He is still young, has enormous potential and I know that Spurs is the perfect place for him to continue to develop into one of the best goalkeepers in Europe."
Managers do not usually go that far unless they want to send a message. In this case, the message is that Tottenham see Kinsky as more than a short-term fix after a difficult season.
Kinsky's own quote fits that reading. He said: "When I joined 18 months ago, my expectations were to fight for my place in the team and to wear this shirt every week. It's been a real journey to get here and a nice story already, and I'm looking forward to what lies ahead over the next months and years."
The club have not revealed the length or terms of the new deal, and reports differ on that point, so it is better to treat the extension itself as the story. The wider context is clear enough. Signed from Slavia Praha for about £12.5m in January 2025 on a contract running to 2031, Kinsky has now taken a bad night against Atletico Madrid and turned it into a convincing finish to the season.
What this says about Tottenham's goalkeeping plan
A new deal does not settle every question around Tottenham's goalkeeping depth, but it does show where Kinsky stands after a rough first spell. De Zerbi's praise was explicit, the late-season run was real, and the contract followed.
For a player who looked badly damaged in that Champions League tie, that is a significant recovery. Kinsky goes into the new season with seven straight late-season appearances behind him and clear backing from his manager at Tottenham.
FAQ
Why did Tottenham give Antonin Kinsky a new contract?
Tottenham rewarded Kinsky after he forced his way back into the side over the final seven league games. Roberto De Zerbi said he was outstanding in that spell, praised his professionalism and said the club believes he can develop into one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.
How did Antonin Kinsky recover from the Atletico Madrid game?
Kinsky's low point came when he was substituted inside 17 minutes after two glaring errors in the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid. He responded by featuring in all seven of Tottenham's final matches and finished the campaign with a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Everton.
What has Roberto De Zerbi said about Antonin Kinsky?
De Zerbi said Kinsky was outstanding over Tottenham's final seven games and a key part of what the club achieved in that period. He also said the goalkeeper earned his new contract through both performances and professionalism, and that Spurs is the right place for his development.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →