Cristian Romero leaves Tottenham for Atletico Madrid in £34.2m deal
Tottenham woke up on Saturday to confirmation of a seismic change at the heart of their team: Cristian Romero, captain and defensive cornerstone, has gone.
Spurs announced that the Argentine has completed a £34.2million move to Atletico Madrid, ending a three-year spell in north London and immediately forcing Roberto De Zerbi to rethink both his back line and his leadership group.
“We have reached agreement with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Cristian Romero,” the club said in a statement. “Signed from Atalanta in 2021, ‘Cuti’ was a key player in our UEFA Europa League triumph of 2024/25 and was named captain for the 2025/26 campaign. His 32 appearances in all competitions last season took his tally to 156 in our colours. We wish Cuti all the best for the future.”
A Europa League winner, a captain, and now a sizeable hole to fill. De Zerbi must name a new skipper and reshape a defence that is being stripped back in the final stretch of the window.
Spence exit to Inter next
Romero is not the only defender heading for the door.
Tottenham are braced to confirm a second departure, with Djed Spence closing in on a permanent move to Inter. The full-back was pictured in Milan earlier this week as the Serie A champions agreed a deal worth around £25.6m.
Italian outlet Gazzetta reports that Spence has passed his medical and signed a contract running until 2031. He is expected to return briefly to London to finalise work permit formalities before the transfer is completed.
One leader gone, another defender set to follow. The back line that lifted the Europa League in 2025 is being dismantled piece by piece.
Attack next on Spurs’ agenda
Once Spence’s move is rubber-stamped, Tottenham plan to turn aggressively towards attacking reinforcements.
The club have been linked with Folarin Balogun, Cody Gakpo and Savinho as they look to add cutting edge in the final third. Balogun would bring penalty-box instincts, Gakpo offers versatility across the front line, and Savinho has emerged as one of Europe’s most intriguing wide options.
Savinho illness halts City plans – and fuels Spurs intrigue
Savinho’s situation added another twist on Friday.
The Brazilian winger was absent on Thursday as his team-mates continued preparations for Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal in Cardiff. Initial suggestions pointed to illness, and Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed that version of events in his pre-match press conference.
“Yesterday he was not part of the session,” Maresca said. “He was a bit ill. We'll see today, the session is in the afternoon, we'll see how it is and we'll decide.”
City insist it is a health issue, not a transfer standoff. But with Tottenham known to have been working on a deal for Savinho throughout the summer and identifying him as a key attacking target, every absence, every comment, will be read through a different lens.
Romero has gone. Spence is almost out of the door. The money is coming in, the gaps are opening up, and the next few weeks will reveal whether Spurs can turn upheaval into opportunity or whether this is the start of a far more turbulent reshaping than anyone at the club originally planned.
