2026-08-13 08:01:10
Cristian Romero is poised to bring his five-year Tottenham Hotspur spell to an end after Atlético Madrid agreed a £34.2 million deal for the Argentina defender – with Spurs unwilling to allow their captain to cross north London and join Arsenal.
The 28-year-old is set to become Atlético’s fourth signing of the summer after the Spanish club agreed a €40 million package with Tottenham, who will retain a 15 per cent sell-on clause.
Romero had attracted interest from Premier League champions Arsenal in recent days, but Spurs were unwilling to sell their captain to their north London rivals.
Atlético have been long-term admirers of the centre-back, who had expressed a desire to leave Tottenham despite signing a new contract last year.
Romero leaves after five seasons in north London, having made 156 appearances and scored 13 goals following his initial arrival on loan from Atalanta in 2021.
Tottenham subsequently made the move permanent in a £42.5 million deal in 2022, with the defender establishing himself as a key figure at the heart of the club’s defence.
The transfer comes only weeks after Romero was part of Argentina’s run to another World Cup final in North America.
The defender, who had helped his country win the trophy in Qatar four years earlier, played a prominent role as Argentina attempted to retain their crown in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Romero scored during Argentina’s dramatic comeback against Egypt in the last 16 and helped Lionel Scaloni’s side reach the final after a 2-1 semi-final victory over England in Atlanta.
Tottenham teammate Djed Spence was on the opposite side that night as England’s World Cup run ended.
Argentina were ultimately denied back-to-back titles by Spain, who won the final 1-0 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Romero started the showpiece but was replaced by Facundo Medina, 27, after 70 minutes.
He had been due to return to Tottenham for pre-season in the coming week after being granted extra time off following the tournament.
Romero’s departure also follows a turbulent final domestic campaign in which he captained Tottenham as they narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League.
He had been made club captain in 2025 following the departure of Son Heung-min, 34.
His relationship with some supporters came under strain towards the end of last season when he travelled to Argentina before Tottenham’s final Premier League fixture against Everton, despite the club’s top-flight status still being at stake.
Romero had been keen to watch boyhood club Belgrano face River Plate in Argentina.
He returned to London in time to watch Tottenham secure their Premier League survival.
The defender’s exit is part of a significant reshaping of the Tottenham squad, with Spence also closing in on a move away from north London.
The England international is set to join Inter Milan after the Italian club reached a verbal agreement with Tottenham.
Reports put the package at about €31.5 million, with Spence also having reached an agreement over the move.
Spence’s impending departure comes after the full-back emerged as one of England’s notable performers at this summer’s World Cup, including his display against Romero and Argentina in the semi-final.
For Romero, the Atlético move will provide the Argentina international with his first experience of Spanish football and the chance to work under Diego Simeone.
The Atlético head coach has been strengthening his squad after his side finished fourth in La Liga last season, behind third-placed Villarreal.
Romero is set to follow midfielders Lee Kang-in and Morten Hjulmand, and left-back Alejandro Grimaldo into Atlético this summer.
Completing the deal for the Tottenham captain would take the Spanish club’s transfer spending beyond £100 million.
The agreement also brings Atlético’s long-running pursuit of Romero close to completion.
The Spanish club had been in advanced negotiations with Tottenham earlier this month, with Romero favouring Madrid as his next destination while Spurs resisted Arsenal’s attempt to keep the World Cup-winning defender in the Premier League.
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