Cristian Romero leaves Tottenham for Atlético Madrid in €40m deal

Cristian Romero has officially left Tottenham for Atlético Madrid (15 August 2026): €35m plus €5m in add-ons (about £34.2m), a five-year contract, with Spurs keeping a 15% sell-on clause.

Atlético Madrid confirmed the signing of the Argentina centre-back on Saturday morning, ending Romero's five seasons in north London, the last of them as club captain.

Fee and terms

Per ESPN, Tottenham receive €35m up front plus €5m in performance-related variables — a maximum of €40m rather than a flat €40m. Sky Sports values the package at around £34.2m and reports a five-year deal, with Spurs retaining a 15% sell-on clause. Inter and Arsenal had shown interest, but Atlético were Romero's preferred destination, Sky adds.

What he leaves behind

Romero, 28, arrived from Atalanta on loan in 2021 before a permanent move. ESPN counts 156 appearances and 13 goals in all competitions, and he was Player of the Match in the 2025 Europa League final against Manchester United — the trophy that ended Spurs' 17-year wait. His final season as captain was harder: a relegation fight, two red cards and a knee injury that ruled him out of the closing weeks (Sky Sports). In his farewell he admitted he "wasn't perfect" but said he had achieved his dream of "leaving my name in this club's history".

Who replaces him?

Spurs prepared early: ESPN notes the club signed centre-backs Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke this summer. A new captain has not been officially named at the time of writing.

Tottenham open the 2026/27 Premier League away to Brentford on Saturday 22 August (23:30 Vietnam time). Follow the season on WildlyPlay's Premier League page.

Sources: ESPN, Sky Sports, BBC Sport (15 Aug 2026).