Cristian Romero given green light to join Atletico Madrid in reported €40m deal

On 13 August 2026, Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero was reported to have been given the green light to join Atletico Madrid, bringing to a close a protracted summer transfer saga in the transfer window. Media reports say the move is worth €40 million including add-ons and contains a 15% sell-on fee clause.

Romero’s arrival follows interest from Inter Milan and Barcelona but he opted for Diego Simeone’s side, according to reports. He originally moved to Tottenham in 2021 on a season-long loan from Atalanta, with the transfer made permanent the following season, and spent five years at Spurs during which he was handed the captain’s armband ahead of last season. The article states Romero’s occasional rash decisions and tendency to collect red cards had harmed Tottenham at times, prompting head coach Roberto De Zerbi to judge him saleable to raise funds while preferring defenders Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke.

Having completed the move to Los Colchoneros, Romero is expected to be inserted straight into Atletico’s starting XI, possibly replacing Robin Le Normand and pairing with David Hancko at centre-back. The defensive unit is listed as protecting goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Alejandro Grimaldo, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial fee of €20 million, is pencilled in at left-back, while utility player Marcos Llorente is projected to operate at right-back. Those selections form the full-back positions flanking the central pairing that includes Romero and Hancko.

In midfield Pablo Barrios and summer signing Morten Hjulmand are forecast to start, providing the central engine for the side. On the flanks, Ademola Lookman is expected on the left and Giuliano Simeone on the right, with the Nigerian Lookman set to swap places with Alex Baena as the season progresses.

Up front the predicted strike partnership is Alexander Sørloth alongside Julian Alvarez, with Alvarez’s inclusion contingent on whether he remains in Madrid. The reported transfer and lineup project immediate changes to Atletico’s defensive personnel.

If the reported agreement is finalised, Romero would join Atletico’s first team and be available for selection in the club’s starting XI, altering the club’s central-defensive options ahead of the coming campaign.