“Harry Kane made an emotional return to Tottenham Hotspur, receiving a standing ovation as Bayern Munich defeated Spurs 3-2 in a pre-season friendly. In his first visit back to Tottenham since his £86.4m transfer to Bayern, Kane entered as a late substitute and was warmly applauded by Spurs fans. After the match, he took a solo lap of honor, expressing gratitude for the incredible support he received throughout his career at the club. The game saw Tottenham take the lead through Dejan Kulusevski, but Bayern responded with goals from Dayot Upamecano, Serge Gnabry, and Thomas Müller. Kulusevski added a second, but Bayern held on for the win. Kane and Eric Dier, another former Spurs player now with Bayern, were honored with gifts before kick-off. New Tottenham signings were also introduced to the fans in a night filled with emotion and excitement.”
Harry Kane Receives Warm Welcome on Return to Tottenham as Bayern Munich Triumphs 3-2
Kane’s Emotional Return to Tottenham
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane was greeted with a standing ovation at his former club Tottenham Hotspur as the German team secured a 3-2 victory in a pre-season friendly. Kane, who transferred to Bayern last summer in a deal worth £86.4m plus add-ons, made a late appearance as a substitute on his first return to the London club.
The England captain received applause from the Tottenham faithful both when he entered the pitch and during his solo lap of honor at the conclusion of the match. Reflecting on the occasion, Kane acknowledged that he “probably shouldn’t have been playing,” as he had just returned to training after leading England to the Euro 2024 final. Nonetheless, he was determined to play for a few minutes, remarking, “It was good to say thank you to everyone.”
Kane expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming reception, stating, “The reception I got was amazing. It was great to clap them around the pitch after, those who stayed behind, and I will always be thankful for every Spurs fan for the support they’ve given me throughout my career.”
Tributes and New Signings
Before kick-off, both Kane and Eric Dier, who joined Bayern from Tottenham in January, were honored with gifts from Spurs in recognition of their contributions to the club. Tottenham also introduced their new signings—Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray, and Lucas Bergvall—to the fans before the match began.
Match Summary
The game itself saw Tottenham take the lead through Dejan Kulusevski, but Bayern responded with goals from Dayot Upamecano, Serge Gnabry, and Thomas Müller to make it 3-1. Kulusevski added a second for Spurs, but Bayern, managed by Vincent Kompany, held on for the win.
Other Friendly Matches
In other pre-season action, Bournemouth managed a 3-2 victory over Girona despite the recent exit of Solanke. Aston Villa concluded their pre-season with a 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund, with Emiliano MartÃnez and Ezri Konsa returning after international duty.
West Ham, featuring Brazil midfielder Lucas Paquetá, secured a penalty shootout win over Celta Vigo after a 2-2 draw. Jarrod Bowen and Paquetá were among the scorers for the Hammers.
Elsewhere, Harvey Barnes’ goal gave Newcastle United a 1-0 win against Brest, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored for Everton in a 1-1 draw with Roma. Wolves suffered a 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano, and Leicester City lost 3-0 to Lens.
Brighton continued their perfect pre-season record with a 4-0 victory over Villarreal, with Danny Welbeck scoring twice. New Fulham signing Emile Smith Rowe marked his debut with a goal as the Cottagers beat Hoffenheim 2-0, with Adama Traoré adding a second. Fulham will start their Premier League season against Manchester United on Friday, August 16
