Tottenham Hotspur have agreed to sell captain Cristian Romero to Atlético Madrid in a deal worth around £34m (40m euros), bringing an eventful five-year stint in north London to a close for the Argentina international.
The 28-year-old defender is expected to become Diego Simeone's fourth signing of the summer, joining a rebuilding Atlético side that finished fourth in La Liga last season, missing out on third place to Villarreal. Spurs have negotiated a 15% sell-on clause as part of the agreement, giving them a share of any future transfer fee.
Romero's departure comes after Tottenham and head coach Roberto De Zerbi decided to let the centre-back leave this summer following a difficult 2025-26 season in which he was suspended on four separate occasions. Inter Milan had initially been the frontrunners to sign him after talks with Spurs over an extension broke down, but Atlético, long-term admirers of the player, moved in to secure a deal for Simeone's compatriot.
Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, had also shown interest in Romero in recent days, but Tottenham were reportedly unwilling to sell their captain to a domestic rival, paving the way for the move to Spain instead.
Romero joined Tottenham on loan from Atalanta in 2021 before making the switch permanent in a £42.5m deal, quickly establishing himself as a key figure in defence. He went on to make 156 appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals, and experienced mixed fortunes under Antonio Conte before forming a strong relationship with Ange Postecoglou.
He wore the captain's armband when Spurs ended a 17-year wait for a trophy with victory over Manchester United in last year's Europa League final, delivering a standout display as Postecoglou fulfilled his promise of silverware. However, the Australian's subsequent sacking weeks later prompted a pointed social media response from Romero directed at the club's hierarchy, with further signs of frustration emerging during a turbulent campaign that followed.
Thomas Frank handed Romero the captaincy ahead of the 2025-26 season, but last term proved chaotic for both player and club, with Tottenham only avoiding relegation thanks to a final-day win over Everton. Romero was in Argentina receiving treatment for a knee injury just days before that crucial fixture, flying back to be present in the stands rather than on the pitch. His return for the relegation decider only came after significant criticism from supporters, further souring his relationship with sections of the fanbase.
Romero represented Argentina throughout their run to this summer's World Cup final, missing just one match for his country during the tournament. He had been due to rejoin Tottenham for pre-season training in the coming days, having been granted extra time off following the competition, before the move to Atlético was finalised.
His exit adds to a summer of significant squad changes at Tottenham under De Zerbi, following back-to-back 17th-place finishes in the Premier League. Spurs are also poised to lose full-back Djed Spence, with Inter Milan in advanced discussions over a £25.6m deal for the England international.
For Atlético, the Romero signing continues an active transfer window that has also brought in midfielders Kang-in Lee and Morten Hjulmand, along with left-back Alejandro Grimaldo. Should the deal for Romero go through, Simeone's side will have spent more than £100m on new recruits this summer as they look to close the gap on La Liga's top three.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football and BBC Sport Football.