It has been speculated, pretty much all summer long that central defender Cristian Romero and fullback Djed Spence were leaving Tottenham Hotspur. With the case of Romero, a Spurs team captain, it was especially overt. What we didn’t know is what teams were going to sign them, and how much money would Tottenham get in return.
🚨🔴⚪️ BREAKING: Cristian Romero to Atlético Madrid, HERE WE GO! 🇦🇷
Agreement in place between clubs with Tottenham at €40m package, add-ons included.
Inter deal off in July, Barcelona decided not to proceed days ago, Spurs were never gonna sell to Arsenal.
Atléti: done. 💥 pic.twitter.com/tovUQvOOEY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2026
Now we know, as Romero is bound for Atletico Madrid, on a €40 million (£38.3m) deal while Spence is moving to Inter Milan on a reported €31.5m (£26.9m) agreement.
Tottenham Hotspur vs TSG Hoffenheim 1899
Preseason Club Friendlies
First one: Sat. Aug. 15, 3pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Second one: Sun. Aug. 16, Time TBD, Behind Closed Doors
Tottenham Preview Material: Predicted Starting XI Injury/Rehabbing List
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano posted the Spence news about seven hours ago, and the Romero news a little over a half-an-hour ago. So it’s a busy day at White Hart Lane, as they’re set to collect about £65m (€72m) in transfer fees on these two sales.
This will offset some of the massive spending that Spurs have conducted this summer, with their having broken the club transfer fee record not once, but twice in midfield.
🚨⚫️🔵 Djed Spence to Inter, here we go! Verbal agreement in place now with Tottenham for England RWB.
Transfer fee worth €31.5m.
Full agreement also with Spence who wanted the move as revealed over recent days. Deal in place. pic.twitter.com/i4SS7Ngb0d
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2026
Tottenham have also acquired players at both the center back and full back positions in the back line. So it make sense for both Romero and Spence to exit.
Both deals are of course subject to passing a medical examination and signing the paperwork. However, with general agreements in place and transfer fees agreed, it really shouldn’t be an issue; for either one.
Both deals are reaching completion in the later stages of the summer transfer window due to the players’ involvement in the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Spence, 26, was a part of the England side that finished third at the tournament while “Cuti” Romero, 28, was a part of the Argentina side that finished runner-up.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.