Atlético Madrid agree €40m deal for Tottenham captain Cristian Romero
Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has agreed to join Atlético Madrid in a €40m (£34.1m) deal, the clubs announced on 12 August 2026. The Argentina centre-back will leave Spurs this summer after being granted permission to depart by the club and head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Romero was cleared to move following a turbulent 2025-26 campaign in which he served four separate suspensions. He arrived in north London in 2021 and had mixed success under Antonio Conte before developing a strong bond with Ange Postecoglou during his time at Tottenham.
Romero wore the captain’s armband as Tottenham ended a 17-year trophy drought with victory over Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final and produced a fine performance in that game. Postecoglou’s dismissal weeks later was followed by a thinly-veiled social media post from Romero directed at Spurs’ hierarchy, and further public exchanges occurred during a chaotic last season.
Tottenham avoided relegation only with a final-day 1-0 win over Everton, a match Romero was present for in the stands after flying back from Argentina. He had travelled to Argentina days earlier to receive treatment on a knee injury, and his return amid widespread criticism proved decisive for many supporters' perceptions.
Inter Milan initially led the chase for Romero but talks stalled and Atlético moved in to secure Diego Simeone’s target. Simeone has repeatedly talked up Romero’s quality in recent seasons and will finally get his man at Atlético.
Newly promoted Hull City broke their transfer record to sign Senegal defender Nobel Mendy from Rayo Vallecano on a five-year deal with an option for a further 12 months; the fee was not disclosed but exceeds the reported £20m Hull paid for Konstantinos Tzolakis last week. Mendy, who has one international cap and previously played for Paris FC and Real Betis, finished the season with an appearance in May’s Conference League final loss to Crystal Palace. “I have wanted to play in the Premier League since I was little, so it’s a great challenge to face and I am ready for it,” Mendy told Hull’s website.
Hull also signed Australia international Lucas Herrington from Colorado Rapids on a five-year deal; the 18-year-old became Australia’s youngest player to start a World Cup game for the Socceroos this summer. Crystal Palace have re-signed Aston Villa’s Evann Guessand on loan for the season with an option to buy after the Côte d’Ivoire forward made 14 appearances following a January move to Selhurst Park. Palace opted in July against making the transfer permanent; Guessand, 25, joined Villa from Nice for £30m last summer but did not win a regular place.
Celtic have signed Egypt winger Haissem Hassan from Real Oviedo, subject to international clearance, on a four-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. The 24-year-old impressed at this summer’s World Cup. “When I heard about Celtic being interested in me, I had to get here and be part of the club,” Hassan told the club website. Manager Martin O’Neill said Celtic had done “really well” to secure a player of Hassan’s quality amid interest from other clubs. “He is someone who I think has the ability and experience to do very well for us, performing at a high level in domestic and international football,” said O’Neill.
Romero will leave Spurs after 156 appearances and link up with compatriot Simeone at Atlético, with Tottenham inserting a 15% sell-on clause in the deal; his departure is the latest in a summer of mass changes as De Zerbi oversees a substantial revamp of a squad that has finished 17th in consecutive seasons.