Tottenham captain Cristian Romero set to join Atletico Madrid
Cristian Romero, the Tottenham captain, has confirmed his departure from the club ahead of a move to Atletico Madrid. The Argentina international is expected to complete his transfer after Atletico Madrid agreed to a deal reportedly worth in the region of £34.2m (€40m).
Romero joined Tottenham from Atalanta in 2021 and made 124 appearances for the club over five seasons. His contract with Spurs was set to run until the summer of 2029.
Romero’s Tottenham tenure
During his time at Tottenham, Romero helped the club secure their first trophy in 17 years, with a victory over Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final. He expressed that his dream upon arrival was to leave his name in the club’s history, which he felt he achieved by lifting silverware.
In a social media post, Romero reflected on his time, stating, “I know I wasn’t perfect, but one thing gives me peace: I always gave everything. I defended this shirt with pride and with all my heart.” He added that Tottenham was “much more than a club. It was my home, my challenge and the place where my family and I built such an important part of our lives.”
Romero’s final game for Tottenham was against Sunderland in April, where he sustained a knee injury that sidelined him for the last six Premier League matches. The team was involved in a relegation battle during this period. He received criticism from supporters after initially planning to be in Argentina to watch his former club Belgrano play in the Primera Division Apertura final, rather than attending Tottenham’s crucial final game against Everton. However, he ultimately returned to England to be present for Spurs’ 1-0 win over Everton, which ensured their 17th-place finish for a second consecutive season.
The defender was sent off twice last season during Tottenham’s Premier League campaign. Despite being linked with other clubs, including Inter Milan and Arsenal, Atletico Madrid emerged as the preferred destination for Romero, who was a long-term target for the Spanish side.
Looking ahead for Spurs
Tottenham will retain a 15% sell-on clause as part of the agreement with Atletico Madrid. Romero’s departure follows the arrivals of defenders Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi at Tottenham this summer, which appeared to set the stage for his exit.
The transfer marks a significant change for Tottenham, who are undergoing a squad revamp under manager Roberto De Zerbi after finishing 17th in consecutive seasons. Romero’s move to Atletico Madrid will see him join fellow compatriot Diego Simeone.
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara commented on Romero’s departure, noting that it is “best for all parties that Romero leaves.” He also suggested that selling to a European club like Atletico Madrid means accepting a lower fee compared to what might be obtained from a Premier League club.
The last transfer between Tottenham and Arsenal occurred 49 years ago when goalkeeper Pat Jennings moved to Arsenal.
Romero’s exit concludes a five-year spell with Tottenham, during which he made 124 appearances.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
