Ashley Phillips has left Tottenham Hotspur for Middlesbrough without making a senior appearance for the Lilywhites.Spurs have been ruthless in how they have operated in the transfer market this summer, with Will Lankshear, Luka Vuskovic, Alfie Devine, and Tynan Thompson all having been sold permanently rather than being loaned out.The latest to join that list was Ashley Phillips, who has completed a move to Middlesbrough for £20m including add-ons, on the back of two exceptional seasons on loan at Stoke City.The 21-year-old will link up with Lankshear at the Riverside Stadium, with the pair looking to aid Boro in their attempts to get back into the Premier League next season.Credit: @georgedunnphotography/InstagramTottenham retain sell-on clause and matching rights for Ashley PhillipsPhillips, who joined from Blackburn Rovers in 2023, has spent all of the last three years on loan in the EFL. He has not made a single appearance for Tottenham, but the kind of deal the club have sanctioned suggests they rate him highly.Tom Barclay has confirmed that the deal to take the centre-back to the North East is worth an initial £7m plus a further £13m in add-ons.Interestingly though, he reveals that Spurs have also retained a 20 per cent sell-on clause on Phillips and a right-to-match option in the future.That means that Tottenham will have the right to match any future offer that Boro accept for the 21-year-old, which indicates that we may yet see the youngster play for Spurs in the future.Barclay wrote on X: “Ashley Phillips’ move from Tottenham to Middlesbrough could bring in £20m. Spurs sources are saying it’s an upfront fee of £7m with £13m in add-ons. Plus a 20% sell-on and matching rights, as has been commonplace with young sales this summer.”Ashley Phillips' move from Tottenham to Middlesbrough could bring in £20m.Spurs sources saying it's an upfront fee of £7m with £13m in add-ons.Plus a 20% sell-on and matching rights, as has been commonplace with young sales this summer #thfc— Tom Barclay (@TomBarclay_) August 15, 2026Spurs have abandoned loan strategy and have aped Real Madrid Rather than continuing to send their talented young players out on loan and allowing their contracts to run out, Tottenham have decided to sell them permanently while retaining a stake in those players.This has been Real Madrid’s modus operandi over the years, with Los Blancos often selling youngsters while attaching a buy-back clause.Spurs’ strategy not only allows them to benefit financially from the progress of these players, but the sell-on clauses also provide them with opportunities to re-sign them in the future at a discounted price.The club’s decision to retain matching rights on some of these players is a clear sign that they are open to bringing them back to North London in the future.READ MORE: Five things we learned as Tottenham beat Hoffenheim 3-0 in pre-seasonThe post Tottenham could make even more than £20m from clever Ashley Phillips sale appeared first on Spurs Web.