Tottenham Confirm 2026/27 Premier League Squad: £60m Star Omitted as De Zerbi's £300m Revolution Takes Shape

Official Confirmation: What the Club Announced

Tottenham Hotspur officially submitted their 25-man Premier League squad list to the Premier League on September 3, 2026. The club's announcement, shared via a brief social media post accompanied by a clipboard emoji and links to further material, confirmed that the squad for the 2026/27 campaign had been finalised.

While the initial post itself did not provide the full squad list within its text, the accompanying registration documents reveal a dramatically reshaped squad following one of the most expensive transfer windows in Premier League history. Every Premier League club is required to register a maximum of 25 senior players, with at least eight classified as "homegrown". Tottenham have met this requirement, with their registered squad featuring eight homegrown players including Tosin Adarabioyo, Conor Gallagher, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies, Brandon Austin and Jacob Knightbridge.

The club also submitted a separate U21 list featuring Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel, who were born on or after January 1, 2005 and therefore do not require senior registration.

The 2026/27 Premier League Squad: Full List

Below is Tottenham Hotspur's confirmed 25-man Premier League squad for the 2026/27 season, as registered with the Premier League:

The £300m Summer Revolution

Record-Breaking Transfer Window

Tottenham's 2026 summer transfer window stands as one of the most aggressive spending sprees in Premier League history. The club invested approximately £314.22 million (over $400 million) in new signings, breaking their club transfer record twice in the same window.

Key Arrivals

Departures

To accommodate this influx of talent, Tottenham also oversaw a significant exodus. Key departures included Cristian Romero to Atletico Madrid for £44.9m, Luka Vuskovic to Brighton for £60.4m, and Djed Spence to Inter Milan for £39.4m. Guglielmo Vicario departed on loan to AC Milan, while Pape Matar Sarr joined Real Sociedad on loan. Dane Scarlett left on a free transfer to Leyton Orient, and Manor Solomon joined West Ham United.

The Richarlison Omission: Controversy and Context

A Stunning Exclusion

The most headline-grabbing aspect of Tottenham's squad announcement is the omission of Brazilian striker Richarlison. The 29-year-old, who joined Tottenham from Everton in 2022 for approximately £60m, was last season's joint-top scorer for the club. Yet his name was notably absent from the 25-man registration list.

De Zerbi's Explanation

Manager Roberto De Zerbi has been characteristically blunt about the situation. The Italian tactician revealed that Richarlison had repeatedly expressed his desire to leave the club throughout the summer. "Richarlison, I don't know. He said too many times he wants to leave," De Zerbi stated.

However, in a surprising twist, De Zerbi subsequently claimed the omission was "not my decision", distancing himself from the administrative finality while simultaneously criticising the player's attitude. It is understood that Richarlison does not feature in Tottenham's plans for the season.

The Numbers Behind the Decision

Richarlison made 102 appearances over four seasons at Tottenham, scoring 27 goals. He has 70 Premier League goals in 238 career appearances and 20 goals in 50 senior appearances for Brazil. Despite this pedigree, the squad limit forced a difficult decision. Spurs had one more non-homegrown player than permitted, compelling De Zerbi to drop someone from the roster.

Richarlison started and played 67 minutes in Tottenham's 3-0 season-opening defeat to Brentford, making his subsequent omission all the more striking. He can still depart the club for a Turkish or Saudi club, as their transfer windows remain open. Turkish side Trabzonspor have been linked with a move. His contract expires at the end of this season, though Tottenham hold an option to extend by a further year.

Injured Stars Included

In a significant decision, De Zerbi elected to include injured duo Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert in the squad despite both recovering from anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Odobert is anticipated to return before the end of the year, while Simons is targeting a comeback sooner than most would anticipate from such a serious injury.

Dejan Kulusevski also earns his place after confirming his return to full training 477 days after sustaining his complex knee injury. The decision to include injured players while omitting the fit Richarlison has raised eyebrows among supporters and pundits alike.

A Disastrous Start on the Pitch

Opening Day Nightmare

Despite the staggering investment in new talent, Tottenham's 2026/27 season has begun in disastrous fashion. The new-look squad was battered 3-0 away at Brentford on the opening day. Richarlison started that match, playing 67 minutes before his subsequent squad omission.

Back-to-Back Defeats

The misery continued on August 30 when Newcastle United visited the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A 0-2 defeat meant Spurs had conceded five goals and scored none across their opening two matches. After 180 minutes of Premier League football, Tottenham had lost both matches without finding the net.

This represents an alarming start for a club that has spent over £300m and finished 17th in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons.

Tactical Outlook: De Zerbi's 4-2-3-1

Roberto De Zerbi is expected to deploy his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. The holding midfielders Sandro Tonali and Lucas Bergvall are likely to anchor the midfield, allowing the three attacking midfielders freedom to create.

De Zerbi has completely reinvented Tottenham's playing style, implementing build-up patterns that emphasise possession and playing through pressure. The tactical shift represents a significant departure from previous approaches, with the Italian's philosophy now embedded throughout the squad.

What Lies Ahead

The Challenge Ahead

Tottenham face an uphill battle to reverse their fortunes. The club's ambitions for a top-six finish and a return to European football already appear distant after two defeats. However, the quality within the squad suggests that once De Zerbi's system clicks, results should improve.

Transfer Window Still Open

The situation regarding Richarlison remains unresolved, with Turkish and Saudi clubs still able to sign the Brazilian. His departure would free up squad space and wages, potentially allowing further reinforcements.