Key Points
- Agreement Reached: Tottenham Hotspur and Serie A club Inter Milan have reached a verbal agreement for the transfer of club captain Cristian Romero.
- Agreed Fee: The clubs have settled on a transfer fee of approximately £34 million (€40 million), which falls below the player’s market valuation of £50.3 million.
- Personal Terms: The 28-year-old Argentine international defender has agreed personal terms with Inter Milan ahead of his return to Italian football.
- Contract Status: Romero’s existing contract with Tottenham was valid until June 2029, but Spurs elected to sanction the move to respect the player’s desire for a new challenge.
- Managerial Confirmation: Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi publicly confirmed that he agreed to honour a pact made with the defender in April allowing him to depart.
- Squad Replacements: Tottenham have already prepared for the departure by bringing in defenders Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi to reinforce their defensive options.
North London (North London News) August 3, 2026 — Tottenham Hotspur captain and Argentina international defender Cristian Romero has agreed terms to join Italian Serie A club Inter Milan, ending his five-year spell in North London. As reported by journalist Leo Paradizo of ESPN Argentina, both Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan have reached a verbal agreement regarding the transfer fee, which is understood to be approximately £34 million (€40 million).
What Are the Financial and Contractual Details of the Agreement?
As reported by journalist Noh Joo-hwan of Sports Chosun, Romero had reached a personal agreement with Inter Milan prior to the culmination of direct talks between the two clubs. Born in 1998, the 28-year-old World Cup winner was under contract with Tottenham until June 2029, having signed a long-term contract following his initial arrival in North London.
The agreed transfer fee of £34 million sits below Romero’s current estimated market value of £50.3 million. Tottenham originally recruited the central defender from Italian club Atalanta in 2022 for a fee of €50 million (£42.5 million), following an initial loan spell that began in 2021. Industry analysts note that accepting a sum lower than market valuation reflects Tottenham’s decision to facilitate the player’s exit rather than retain a squad member seeking a transfer.
What Has Tottenham Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi Said About the Exit?
As reported by sports publication Metro and Goal, Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi revealed that he had agreed to allow Romero to leave as part of an understanding reached when De Zerbi took charge of the club in April.
De Zerbi detailed the conversation, stating:
“At the beginning of my time, in April, I had, I don’t know, one million individual meetings. And [the players] told me what was their idea. I said: ‘Yes, help me to stay up, and then I help you to leave’. If you don’t help me to stay up, you stay underwater with me!
“But Romero with me was unbelievable. Top, in his behaviour, his respect, he suffered when he did not play the last game. It is not true that he wanted to leave for Argentina to prepare for their World Cup. It’s not true. After the semi-final [against England] we text a message, but I never called him to convince him to stay. I respected what he told me. Like for [Guglielmo] Vicario, like for every player. Romero as a player is one of the best centre-backs in the world, but at the end I said I want to respect the will of the players.”
What Is the Background Behind Cristian Romero’s Departure from Tottenham?
Cristian Romero arrived at Tottenham Hotspur in August 2021 from Atalanta, establishing himself over five seasons as a core presence in the team’s central defense. Following the departure of forward Son Heung-min, Romero was appointed Tottenham club captain under former manager Thomas Frank. During his tenure in North London, Romero achieved continental success, helping Spurs secure the UEFA Europa League title.
However, over the past year, Romero expressed a private desire to seek a new career challenge outside the Premier League. Interest from Spanish clubs Barcelona and Atletico Madrid was reported earlier in the transfer window, though concrete agreements failed to materialise. Concurrently, recurring injury setbacks and occasional disciplinary suspensions affected his consistent availability for Tottenham, leading the club’s hierarchy to pursue squad restructuring.
To mitigate the defensive impact of Romero’s departure, Tottenham secured the signings of central defenders Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi prior to finalizing negotiations with Inter Milan.
How Will Cristian Romero’s Transfer Affect Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur?
This transfer development significantly impacts the operational strategies of both Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as their respective supporter bases:
For Inter Milan and Their Supporters
Under head coach Cristian Chivu, Inter Milan gain an experienced international defender to replace outgoing squad veterans including Francesco Acerbi, Matteo Darmian, and Stefan de Vrij. Having already signed free agent John Stones and secured Manuel Akanji, the arrival of Romero provides Inter with proven Serie A expertise and high-level defensive capability ahead of domestic and European campaigns.
For Tottenham Hotspur and Their Supporters
For Tottenham, the departure of their club captain marks a transition point in Roberto De Zerbi’s tactical rebuilding program. While the loss of a senior international defender reduces experienced leadership within the squad, the completion of the transfer allows Tottenham’s recruitment department to reallocate resources toward attacking reinforcements before the transfer deadline.
