Atlético Madrid has finalized a deal to acquire defender Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero from Tottenham, with the transfer potentially reaching €40 million ($46 million), according to ESPN sources.
The 28-year-old centre-back has long been on the radar of Atlético and its coach, Diego Simeone, and a departure from Spurs had been anticipated this summer.
Atlético will pay an initial fee of €35 million, with an additional €5 million possible in performance-based add-ons for the Argentine international, as per sources.
Romero dedicated five seasons to Spurs—his first being on loan—before being named the club captain in 2025.
This summer, he represented Argentina in seven matches at the World Cup, building on his success with the national team, which included wins in the 2022 World Cup and the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
After beginning his career at Belgrano in Argentina, Romero moved to Italy, playing for Genoa and Atalanta, before signing with Tottenham in August 2021.
During his tenure at White Hart Lane, he achieved victory in the 2025 Europa League, though he faced challenges in the 2025-26 season as Tottenham battled against relegation.