Tottenham Captain Cristian Romero Joins Atletico Madrid for £34.2m

Tottenham’s summer took a sharp twist on Saturday morning as the club confirmed captain Cristian Romero’s departure to Atletico Madrid in a £34.2million deal – a move that leaves Roberto De Zerbi searching for a new leader in the dressing room before the season has even begun.

Spurs announced the transfer with a pointed reminder of just how central the Argentine had become in north London.

“We have reached agreement with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Cristian Romero,” the club said. “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.”

From Europa League hero to captain to sudden exit – it is a brutal, modern-football snapshot. De Zerbi now inherits a squad stripped of its on‑field general at the heart of defence, and the timing only sharpens the blow.

Spence bound for Inter as backline is dismantled

Romero is not the only defender heading for the exit. A second departure is close, with Djed Spence on the brink of completing a move to Inter.

Spence was photographed in Milan earlier this week as the Serie A champions agreed a package worth around £25.6m. Italian outlet Gazzetta reported that the full-back has passed his medical and signed a long-term contract keeping him at the club until 2031, though he is expected to return to London briefly to finalise work permit formalities.

Once that deal is rubber-stamped, Tottenham’s backline will have been significantly reshaped in the space of a few days. Two defenders gone, one of them the captain. The recruitment focus has to change quickly.

Spurs turn to attack – Balogun, Gakpo and Savinho on radar

With Romero out and Spence almost out, attention inside the club is set to swing upfield. Spurs are understood to be targeting fresh firepower and have been linked with moves for Folarin Balogun, Cody Gakpo and Savinho.

Savinho, in particular, has been a prominent name on Tottenham’s shortlist throughout the summer window. The Brazilian winger has emerged as a key attacking target as De Zerbi looks to inject more pace and direct threat into his front line.

His immediate future, though, has been complicated by illness at a crucial moment.

Savinho illness confirmed ahead of Community Shield

Savinho was absent on Thursday as his current team-mates continued preparations for Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal in Cardiff, sparking questions over whether a transfer was imminent.

The explanation was more straightforward. He was unwell.

“It was reported that Savinho was dealing with an illness – something that has now been confirmed by City boss Maresca,” the article noted, before the Italian head coach spelled it out at his pre-Arsenal 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.”

So the winger’s short-term availability hinges on how he comes through that final training session. His long-term future, though, is where Spurs are circling.

Tottenham are known to have been working on a deal for Savinho for much of the summer. With Romero gone, Spence on his way and the squad in need of a new captain and fresh attacking spark, the urgency around that pursuit has just gone up a notch.