Cristian Romero has completed his move from Tottenham Hotspur to Atletico Madrid, ending a five-year spell in north London.
The Argentina international has signed a five-year contract with Atletico after the Spanish club agreed a £34.2 million deal for the 28-year-old defender. Tottenham will also retain a 15 per cent sell-on clause.
Romero had been expected to leave Spurs this summer, with Atletico maintaining a long-standing interest in the centre-back. Inter Milan and Arsenal were also linked with the Tottenham captain, but Atletico emerged as his preferred destination.
The defender made 124 appearances for Tottenham and captained the side that ended the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy by beating Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final.
Romero completes Atletico Madrid move after five years at Spurs
His final season in north London was less successful, however, as Spurs endured a difficult Premier League campaign. Romero was sent off twice and later missed the end of the season with a knee injury.
He also faced criticism after appearing set to miss Tottenham’s final league game against Everton to watch boyhood club Belgrano in Argentina. He ultimately returned to England and attended Spurs’ crucial victory.
Romero announced his departure on Friday, describing Tottenham as his “home” and reflecting on the significance of ending the club’s long trophy wait.
“The journey wasn’t perfect, but I don’t want that to define my goodbye,” he wrote on X. “I choose to remember the happy moments, the lessons, the people who stood by me and, above all, the love I received during these five years.”
Romero now begins a new chapter in Spain, with Atletico securing one of their long-standing defensive targets.