Tottenham Hotspur are close to completing the signing of Andy Robertson on a free transfer, with the Liverpool left-back expected to join once his contract expires this summer.
There is news that the Scotland captain has reportedly agreed terms over a move to North London, after turning down late interest from Juventus to stay in the Premier League. Nothing is officially signed yet, but all signs point towards Robertson becoming one of Tottenham’s first major arrivals of the window.
It is also a move that says a lot about where the Spurs are right now. This is not a team aiming to compete for the top four anymore. They are rebuilding after finishing 17th in the Premier League after a deeply disappointing season, with Roberto De Zerbi now responsible for fixing both the squad and the mindset.
A signing that comes from clear need
This is not one of those surprise opportunistic deals. Tottenham have been actively reshaping their squad this summer and have been keeping an eye on Robertson for a while.
In fact, they already tried to bring him in during the January window, but they failed because Liverpool did not want to let him go at that moment. But after a few months, the situation has completely changed.
Spurs need experience. They need players who have actually been through pressure situations and know how to deal with them. That has been missing in this squad, especially in defensive areas.
Left-back has been a problem position. Destiny Udogie has shown real quality at times, especially when moving into midfield to help Spurs control the ball. But injuries have broken his rhythm, and over the season Spurs have not had a reliable option there.
That is where Robertson comes in.
Why Robertson still matters, even at 32
At Liverpool this season, Robertson’s role has clearly changed. He is not an automatic starter anymore.
With Milos Kerkez arriving and taking more responsibility, Robertson ended up playing more of a rotation role, finishing the season with limited Premier League minutes. It was the first real sign that Liverpool were moving towards a new cycle.
But even with reduced minutes, he still looks like a player who can contribute at the top level. Just not every three days anymore.
What stands out more now is not his explosive running or constant overlap numbers from his peak years, but his experience and decision-making. He knows when to go, when to hold, and how to manage big moments in matches.
That is something Spurs have lacked, especially when games start to get messy.
There is also the leadership factor. Robertson is Scotland captain, has played in Champions League finals, won league titles, and spent nearly a decade in one of the most intense systems in European football. That kind of background does not disappear even if the legs slow slightly.
How he fits into De Zerbi’s system
Roberto De Zerbi’s system at Tottenham is expected to be quite flexible, often shifting between a 4-2-3-1 and a more structured 3-2-5 shape when Spurs have the ball.
In simple terms, full-backs are not just defenders. They are key attacking outlets and also important in how Spurs build play from the back.
Robertson fits that in a slightly different way compared to Udogie.
Udogie tends to drift inside into midfield areas, almost acting like an extra midfielder at times. He helps Spurs play through pressure centrally.
Robertson is different. He is more direct. He stays wide, pushes high, and looks to deliver crosses quickly once he gets into attacking positions.
That difference actually gives Spurs something they have been missing. When teams sit deep against them, Spurs sometimes struggle to stretch the pitch properly. Robertson’s natural instinct to stay wide and whip in early crosses gives them another way of attacking compact defences.
It is simple, but it is effective.
Pressing, energy, and what still holds up
One thing Robertson definitely still has is intensity.
He spent years under Jurgen Klopp in a system that demanded constant pressing, constant running, and constant awareness in transition moments. That experience fits quite neatly with what De Zerbi wants, even if the structure is slightly different.
Spurs under De Zerbi are expected to press high and aggressively, especially in wide areas. Robertson is comfortable stepping up the pitch, engaging wingers early, and squeezing space.
The main question now is not about his understanding of the role, but about physical consistency. At 32, he is not going to cover the same ground he once did every single game.
That is why this move looks more like rotation planning than a guaranteed starting role.
Sharing responsibility with Udogie
This is probably the most practical part of the signing.
Tottenham cannot rely on Udogie to play every game, especially with his injury record this season. That is just not realistic in a long campaign.
Robertson gives them a different option without a major drop in quality. He is experienced enough to step in immediately, but also adaptable enough to share minutes depending on the opponent.
It also gives De Zerbi flexibility. Some games might need Udogie’s inverted midfield movement. Others might need Robertson’s width and crossing. Having both allows Spurs to adjust without changing the entire system.
A sensible move in a rebuilding phase
This is not a signing that screams long-term planning, and it probably was not meant to.
It feels more like a practical decision for where Tottenham are right now. A team coming off a poor season, trying to stabilise, and bring in players who understand what top-level football actually demands.
Robertson is not arriving as a superstar signing. He is arriving as someone who knows the league, knows the pressure, and still has enough quality to make a difference.
And for Spurs at this stage, that might be exactly the point.