Atlético de Madrid have moved to the brink of signing Cristian Romero from Tottenham Hotspur in a package understood to be worth €40 million, including bonuses and add-ons. The Argentina centre-back is set to agree a four-year contract. It would give Diego Simeone’s side an experienced senior defender, even if the move still needs final club confirmation before it can be treated as complete.
- Atlético de Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a €40 million package for Cristian Romero, including bonuses and add-ons.
- Romero is set to sign a four-year contract, with the move already well beyond the early-contact stage.
Atlético de Madrid’s Move for Cristian Romero
Atlético de Madrid have pushed hard for Romero because he gives them the kind of high-level experience they want at centre-back.
Romero arrives with recent Premier League, Champions League and 2026 World Cup experience behind him. In the 2025 Premier League season, he made 23 appearances (22 starts) and played 1,868 minutes, scoring four goals and adding one assist. He also featured in six Champions League league-phase matches, contributing one goal and two assists, which underlines that Atlético are targeting a defender used to big games.
Romero’s Tottenham Exit Takes Shape
Romero’s expected departure brings an end to a five-season spell at Tottenham, where he made 156 appearances and scored 13 goals. Atlético emerged as the leading destination after an earlier route to Inter fell away, while Barcelona did not move forward with an offer.
Tottenham’s defensive picture has changed this summer, too. The arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi have helped reshape their options at centre-back, which makes Romero’s exit easier to understand. The deal is also expected to include a 15 per cent sell-on clause that leaves Spurs with an interest in any future move.
What the Deal Could Mean for Atlético
Tottenham, meanwhile, are moving on from a prominent first-team defender as part of a wider reset at the back. Romero missed the end of last season with a knee injury, so the immediate focus stays on getting the transfer fully wrapped up rather than treating him as an Atlético player just yet.
