Atlético Madrid announced on the morning of 12 August 2026 that they had signed centre-back Cristian Romero from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £34.1 million, with the Argentine defender agreeing a five-year contract at the Spanish club.
Tottenham confirmed the departure in a club statement, thanking Romero for his contribution during his time at the club.
We have reached agreement with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Cristian Romero.
Signed from Atalanta in 2021, 'Cuti' was a key player in our UEFA Europa League triumph of 2024/25 and was named captain for the 2025/26 campaign. His 32 appearances in all competitions last season took his tally to 156 in our colours.
A Copa America winner just before his arrival, Cuti became only the second Spurs player to win the World Cup when Argentina beat France in Qatar in 2022. He won the Copa America again in 2024 and reached a second World Cup Final this summer.
Born in Cordoba, Cristian began his career at Belgrano and had spells at Genoa and Juventus before signing for Atalanta.
We wish Cuti all the best for the future.
What was the transfer actually worth?
While Tottenham's own valuation put the fee at £34.1 million, reporting from a football finance publication suggested the deal was actually worth around €40 million once bonuses were included, and stated that a 15% sell-on clause had been inserted in Tottenham's favour. The two figures are not necessarily contradictory, as add-ons and future sell-on percentages are often excluded from headline transfer fees reported by selling clubs.
How did Romero build his reputation before this move?
Romero joined Tottenham from Atalanta in 2021 after starting his career at Belgrano in his home city of Cordoba, with subsequent spells at Genoa and Juventus. He had already won the Copa America with Argentina before arriving in north London, and went on to become only the second Tottenham player to lift the World Cup when Argentina defeated France in the 2022 final in Qatar. He added a second Copa America title in 2024 and reached another World Cup final this past summer. At club level, he was a key figure in Tottenham's Europa League triumph in the 2024/25 season and was handed the captaincy for the 2025/26 campaign, ultimately making 156 appearances for the club across all competitions.
What is happening elsewhere in English football today?
The EFL's new season is now in full swing, with League One and League Two both getting under way after the Championship opened its campaign the previous evening. Today's Championship fixtures include Portsmouth against Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic hosting Derby County, and Sheffield United facing Birmingham City.
In the Championship's curtain-raiser, returning forward Raúl Jiménez scored a late penalty to earn Wolves a point against Blackburn Rovers at Molineux.
How does this fit into the wider EFL calendar?
According to a national sports broadcaster, the 2026-27 EFL season was scheduled to begin across the Championship, League One and League Two on the weekend of 14-16 August, with the same source noting that the Carabao Cup's first round had been set for 7-9 August. Among the League One openers confirmed for Saturday 15 August, according to a broadcaster's fixture guide, are Notts County against Leicester City, Oxford United versus MK Dons, and Reading hosting Luton Town. The same report indicated that Leicester's trip to Notts County was scheduled to kick off at 12.30pm, and that every opening-weekend fixture across the three EFL divisions would be broadcast live on a dedicated sports streaming tier.
What happens next?
Before the transfer was formally confirmed, earlier reporting from a national sports broadcaster indicated that Atlético's move for Romero had been progressing for several days and was expected to be finalised following a medical examination. Separate reporting from a sports news outlet stated that Atlético were expected to complete his registration after that medical so he could be available for the club's next league fixture. Attention now turns to the full weekend programme, with League One's opening round, including Leicester's fixture at Notts County on 15 August, forming part of a wider EFL slate that will be followed closely as clubs begin their campaigns in earnest.
Key Facts
- Cristian Romero has left Tottenham for Atlético Madrid on a five-year deal, with Tottenham citing a £34.1 million fee.
- A football finance outlet reported the deal's value at roughly €40 million including bonuses, with a 15% sell-on clause.
- Wolves drew with Blackburn in the Championship's opening match, with Raúl Jiménez scoring a late penalty.
- League One and League Two fixtures begin today, with the full EFL season having been slated to start on 14-16 August.
- Leicester's League One opener at Notts County is scheduled for 12.30pm on 15 August, according to broadcaster fixture details.
