Atletico Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Cristian Romero from Tottenham for an initial €35m, with a further €5m available in bonuses.
The Argentina centre-back has been a long-term target for Diego Simeone and is expected to leave Tottenham after five seasons at the club.
Romero joined Spurs initially on loan before making the move permanent and was appointed captain in 2025.
Simeone wanted to strengthen his defence with an established, combative centre-back. Romero was a key player for Argentina alongside Lisandro Martinez during their recent successes, including their 2022 World Cup victory and Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024.
The 28-year-old also featured in all seven of Argentina’s matches at this summer’s World Cup.
Atletico spent the most money in La Liga last season with €226m, far ahead of Real Madrid in second place with €168m. The investment was made with all the intention of reestablishing themselves a trophy-winning force alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Since arriving at Atletico in 2011, Simeone has won La Liga twice in 2014 and 2021, the Copa del Rey in 2013 and the Uefa Super Cup in 2012 and 2018. He has reached Champions League final twice in that time, losing both to Real Madrid.
¡Rueda la pelota en Seúl! pic.twitter.com/z8efyNIc3V
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) August 9, 2026
However, the club feel they have fallen behind since their last La Liga success in 2021. And there was much pressure on Simeone to deliver last season after the investment they made.
The signings were not without impact. Although Atletico finished well behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga, and indeed fourth behind Villareal, they also knocked Barcelona out in the Copa del Rey and Champions League, before losing the final of the former against Real Sociedad, and getting knocked out by Arsenal in the semi-finals of the latter.
The target this season is to compete again for those trophies.
Romero began his career with Belgrano in Argentina before moving to Italy, where he played for Genoa and Atalanta. Tottenham signed him in August 2021, initially bringing him to north London on loan.
Romero helped Tottenham win the Europa League in 2025, their first major trophy in years, but the following season was far more difficult. Spurs spent much of the 2025-26 campaign fighting to avoid relegation.
At Atletico, he will be joining several of the Argentine teammates he played with at this summer’s World Cup, including Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada, and Juan Musso.
