Cristian Romero has completed his switch from Tottenham Hotspur to Atletico Madrid, with the Spanish club agreeing to pay Spurs £34.2m for the 28-year-old Argentina centre-back. In a message posted on social media, Romero acknowledged that his five years in north London had not been flawless but insisted he had always given his all for the club.
According to The Athletic, Atletico have now formally completed the acquisition, with the defender signing a long-term contract while Tottenham retain a 15% sell-on clause on any future sale. Our earlier coverage of the transfer noted that Romero's move to Atletico Madrid was confirmed as the EFL season got under way, with the deal reported at around £34.1m at the time.
What did Romero say about his Tottenham exit?
He said he was aware his time at the club had not been perfect but that his commitment never wavered.
"I know I wasn't perfect," "But one thing gives me peace: I always gave everything. I defended this shirt with pride and with all my heart."
Romero also spoke about arriving at the club with a specific ambition and framed his Europa League triumph as the fulfilment of that goal.
"When I arrived, I had a clear dream: to leave my name in this club's history,"
"I knew the only way was through hard work, sacrifice and achieving something that had seemed so difficult for so long: lifting a trophy again. And we did it."
He closed his message by describing his enduring emotional connection to Tottenham despite the move.
"I'm leaving the club, but a part of my heart will always remain here. Once I was one of you. Today, I leave as one of you forever."
"With all my love and respect. Thank you for everything."
How did his final months at Spurs unfold?
Romero's last appearance for Tottenham came against Sunderland in April 2026, when he was forced off in tears after suffering a knee injury that kept him out of the club's remaining six Premier League fixtures. With Tottenham embroiled in a relegation fight, Romero drew criticism from supporters after indicating he planned to travel to Argentina for the club's final league game so he could watch his boyhood club Belgrano compete in the Primera Division Apertura final.
He subsequently changed course and returned to England to watch Tottenham secure a 1-0 win over Everton, a result that kept them in the Premier League and saw them finish 17th for the second season running.
What is his background at the club?
Romero joined Tottenham from Atalanta in 2021 and quickly established himself as a first-choice centre-back, going on to make 156 appearances for the club. The high point of his spell came in the 2025 Europa League final, when Tottenham beat Manchester United to claim their first trophy in 17 years, ending a lengthy wait for silverware.
Per a national broadcaster's report, Romero represents Atletico's fourth signing of the summer transfer window. Earlier reporting from a national newspaper's coverage indicated that Inter Milan had initially been the frontrunners for his signature before Atletico moved ahead once talks between Inter and Tottenham stalled. The transfer had been widely reported from 12 August 2026 before being finalised three days later on 15 August 2026.
Figures on the overall value of the deal vary slightly between outlets: ESPN reported the transfer at approximately €40 million (£34.1 million; $46 million), split as a €35 million fixed fee plus up to €5 million in variable add-ons.
What happens next for Romero and Atletico?
Romero is expected to undergo a medical examination in Madrid before Atletico issue a formal announcement of the signing, according to The Athletic's earlier report. One report from Yahoo Sports suggests he could be tied to the club until 2031 and might even make his debut in Atletico's La Liga opener against Malaga the following Wednesday.
Key Facts
- Romero's move from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid is valued at roughly £34.2m, with some reports citing €40m (€35m fixed plus €5m in variables).
- He made 156 appearances for Tottenham after joining from Atalanta in 2021, including their 2025 Europa League final win over Manchester United.
- Tottenham have reportedly retained a 15% sell-on clause in the agreement with Atletico.
- Inter Milan were earlier frontrunners for Romero before Atletico's move went ahead once talks with Tottenham stalled.
- Romero may debut for Atletico in their La Liga opener against Malaga, with a contract reportedly running until 2031.
