Atletico Madrid complete signing of Spurs captain Cristian Romero

Atletico Madrid have signed Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero on a contract running until June 2031, the Spanish club said on Saturday (August 15, 2026). The announcement confirmed Romero’s departure from Spurs after five seasons in North London.

Financial terms of the transfer were not disclosed by Atletico. British media reported Atletico paid around £34.2 million ($46.27 million) for the 28-year-old. Romero bade farewell to Tottenham on Friday (August 14), saying he was leaving "with a heart full of memories and enormous pride for everything we lived and achieved together".

The 28-year-old centre back made 156 appearances and scored 13 goals for Tottenham across all competitions. He initially joined the Premier League club on loan from Atalanta in 2021 before the move was made permanent. During his time at Spurs he served as captain.

Romero is an Argentina international who was part of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup. He also featured in the 2026 tournament, including the final. His international pedigree was noted alongside the club-level details in reports of the transfer.

At the end of last season Romero drew criticism for travelling to Argentina before Tottenham's final league match against Everton, with Spurs still fighting to secure their Premier League status. That episode was referenced in coverage of his exit from the club.

The transfer binds Romero to Atletico Madrid until June 2031.