Tottenham Hotspur have announced the departure of defender Cristian Romero, confirming that a deal has been struck with Atletico Madrid worth a reported £34.2 million.
In a statement released by the north London club, Spurs confirmed the agreement had been finalised, bringing an end to the Argentine centre-back's four-year spell at the club. "We have reached agreement with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Cristian Romero," the statement read.
Romero arrived in north London in 2021 following his move from Atalanta and quickly established himself as one of the squad's most important defenders. The statement highlighted his contribution, noting that he "was a key player in our UEFA Europa League triumph of 2024/25 and was named captain for the 2025/26 campaign." Across his time at the club, the defender made 156 appearances in all competitions, with 32 of those coming last season alone.
Spurs also used the announcement to bid farewell to the player, adding: "We wish Cuti all the best for the future."
The Romero exit comes amid a busy period of transfer activity for Tottenham, with the club also working through the departure of full-back Djed Spence. According to reports from Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Spence has already passed his medical ahead of a move to Inter Milan and has put pen to paper on a contract that will keep him at the San Siro until 2031. The defender is expected to return to London in the coming days to finalise work permit procedures before the switch is officially completed.
With both deals moving toward completion, attention within the Tottenham camp is now turning toward reinforcing the attacking options at Thomas Frank's disposal. The north London club have been credited with interest in a trio of forwards this summer, including Monaco's Folarin Balogun, Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, and Manchester City winger Savinho.
Of the three, Savinho appears to be the most advanced target, with Tottenham said to have been working on a deal for the Brazilian for much of the transfer window. However, his proposed move has been complicated slightly by fitness concerns. Savinho was absent from Manchester City training on Thursday as his teammates prepared for Sunday's Community Shield clash against Arsenal in Cardiff, with reports suggesting the winger was suffering from illness.
City manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the situation at his pre-match press conference on Friday, addressing the winger's absence directly. "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."
The uncertainty over Savinho's short-term fitness does not appear to have dampened Tottenham's determination to press ahead with a deal, though the north London club will be keeping a close eye on developments in Cardiff before pushing any further business over the line. With funds freed up by the Romero sale and the Spence departure nearing completion, Spurs look set for a busy conclusion to their summer rebuild as Frank looks to reshape his squad both defensively and going forward.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (football).