Romero departs Tottenham for Atletico Madrid in £34.2m deal

Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero has confirmed his departure from the club to join Atletico Madrid, concluding a five-season tenure that included 124 appearances. The transfer deal is valued at approximately £34.2m (€40m), with Tottenham retaining a 15 per cent sell-on clause in the agreement.

Romero, who served as captain during the team’s 2024 League Cup victory that ended a 17-year trophy drought, announced the exit via Instagram. He cited his desire to leave a lasting mark on the club’s history and expressed pride in helping secure silverware, thanking staff, teammates, and fans for their support during his time in north London.

The move follows months of speculation linking the Argentine defender with interest from Arsenal and Inter Milan. However, Tottenham remained reluctant to sell to their north London rivals, and the club ultimately agreed terms with Atletico Madrid, a side long-term admirers of Romero’s abilities. The central defender’s contract was set to run until the summer of 2029.

Spurs had appeared to lay the groundwork for Romero’s exit this summer following the arrivals of defenders Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi. The decision to sell comes amid criticism regarding Romero’s disciplinary record, which includes four Premier League red cards, and questions surrounding his attitude during the club’s recent relegation battle.

Sky Sports pundits Michael Bridge and Jamie O’Hara criticised the financial implications of the deal, noting that the fee is lower than what Tottenham received for teenage defender Luka Vuskovic, who joined Brighton for a club-record £50m. O’Hara suggested that a sale to a Premier League rival such as Manchester United could have yielded between £60m and £70m, attributing the lower figure to the premium typically paid by English clubs.

Senior editor Lyall Thomas highlighted specific defensive errors, such as Romero’s role in Spurs’ 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, as indicative of why the club needed to move on. The departure marks a shift in the club’s structure, with new signings expected to impact the dressing room as Tottenham enters a new era under the guidance of Diego Simeone at Atletico.