Chimbonda was once denied an early opportunity to play against Spurs, because he turned up five minutes late for the Sunderland Bus. Harry Redknapp must be wishing that this doesn't become a regular thing now Chimbonda is back with Spurs.
Chimbonda was brought into the Sunderland squad for an undisclosed fee in July 2008.
The Guadeloupe born defender began his career with French side Le Harve in 1999, establishing himself as a first team regular before leaving for rival French club Bastia in 2003.
However after allegations Chimbonda suffered racist abuse in France he opted to try his luck in England. He was given an opportunity to play in the Premier League when newly-promoted Wigan paid £500,000 to secure his services for the 2005/06 season. It proved to be money well spent as Wigan enjoyed a dream debut season in the league with Chimbonda making the Premier League team of the season as right.
However he angered the Wigan faithful when he handed in a transfer request on the last day of the season, allegedly before he’d even left the pitch. Tottenham paid £4.5 million for him in the summer of 2006, after Chimbonda had returned from the World Cup in Germany where he didn’t see a minute of action.
He went on to make 65 appearances for the club before his move to Sunderland.
Chimbonda never settled in the north-east and Harry Redknapp re-signed the unpredictable Frenchmen for an undisclosed fee in the 2009 winter transfer window.