Tottenham Hotspur are in a state of limbo. A week after winning the Europa League final in Bilbao, it is unclear who will be their head coach next season.
With Spurs winning silverware for the first time in 17 years, has Ange Postecoglou done enough to convince chairman Daniel Levy that he deserves to stay on for a third season? Or will Levy find it impossible to ignore the fact that Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League, having lost 22 of their 38 matches?
Whoever is in charge next season, there will be 37 squad members during pre-season if you include the players returning from loan. (We have omitted Sergio Reguilon, Fraser Forster and Alfie Whiteman as their contracts are expiring this summer, while Timo Werner will return to RB Leipzig following his loan spell.)
Here, The Athletic breaks down the state of Tottenham’s squad and what should happen next.
Goalkeepers
Guglielmo Vicario
Age: 28
Contract expires: 2028
Vicario missed two and a half months of action after suffering a fractured ankle in Tottenham’s 4-0 victory at Manchester City in November. The Italian international’s absence had a huge impact on the side and Postecoglou used three different goalkeepers before he returned.
Vicario played a crucial part in his club’s Europa League success and made a fantastic save to prevent Luke Shaw from equalising in the last seconds of the final. He is an incredible shot-stopper and a leader in the dressing room who has to stay.
Antonin Kinsky
Age: 22
Contract expires: 2031
Kinsky kept a clean sheet on his debut in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool after arriving from Slavia Prague in January for £13.3million ($17.5m). The Czech Republic Under-21 international made an instant impression with his slick passes and is arguably better on the ball than Vicario, although he did have a couple of shaky moments in the league games that followed.
He only turned 22 in March, so he still has a lot of room for development, but his vast potential is clear for everybody to see.
Brandon Austin
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2029
Austin is a product of Tottenham’s academy and he had to wait until January to make his senior debut in a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United. The 26-year-old’s impressive performance meant that he effectively replaced Forster as the third-choice keeper for the second half of the campaign. He signed a new contract last year, which means he is tied down until the end of the 2028-29 season.
Josh Keeley
Age: 22
Contract expires: 2027
Josh Keeley and Jamie Donley excelled on loan at Leyton Orient in League One this season. Keeley memorably scored in an FA Cup tie against Oldham Athletic and started their 1-0 play-off final defeat to Charlton Athletic last weekend.
Keeley will need to consider if he wants to compete with Austin and Kinsky for a backup role, head out on loan again or find a new club. He will have plenty of options after his impressive performances for Orient if he decides to leave on a short-term or permanent basis.
Defenders
Kevin Danso
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2030
Spurs signed Danso on loan from RC Lens in January after Radu Dragusin suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which ruled him out for the rest of the season. Danso made 15 appearances in all competitions and came off the bench for the final 10 minutes against Manchester United in the Europa League final.
There is an obligation to buy included in the defender’s deal, which means he will be contracted at Spurs until 2030 once that is activated. With Spurs playing at least eight games in the Champions League next season, there’ll be plenty of minutes for the Austrian.
Ben Davies
Age: 32
Contract expires: 2026
The Athletic reported in December that the one-year option in Davies’ contract was due to be triggered, which would keep him at Spurs until 2026. The Wales international has spent over a decade with Spurs and he will have loved lifting a trophy more than anyone apart from his close friend Son Heung-min. Davies might not play on a regular basis, but he has an important role as one of the most experienced members of the dressing room who can guide the next generation.
Radu Dragusin
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2030
Dragusin does not look as comfortable on the ball compared to Tottenham’s other centre-backs, but he deserves a lot of credit for putting his body on the line between December and January when the squad was stretched to its limit. The Romania international forged an awkward and unlikely partnership with Archie Gray, and they did their best in challenging circumstances.
The focus for Dragusin will be to make a full recovery from the ACL injury he suffered in January. It can take up to a year to recover from such an injury, so hopefully he could be back on the pitch near the beginning of the 2025-26 season.
Pedro Porro
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2028
Pretty much every member of the squad was impacted by injury in 2024-25 — apart from Porro. The full-back’s durability and quality delivery meant that The Athletic named him as their Spurs player of the season. Some will point out that Porro is not always the best defensively, but he is not helped by a system which at times leaves him and Destiny Udogie incredibly exposed.
He is a core piece of this squad and should spend his peak years in north London.
Cristian Romero
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2027
Spurs are in a tricky situation with Romero. In an interview in April, the Argentina international publicly flirted with the idea of moving to La Liga, amid interest from Atletico Madrid. He just turned 27 and has won back-to-back Copa America titles and the World Cup with his country. There are only two years left on his contract, so if there is any doubt about his commitment, the smartest option might be to sell him this summer.
Djed Spence
Age: 24
Contact expires: 2028
In the space of a year, Spence has gone from an outcast and saleable asset to an important member of the squad. The full-back joined Spurs from Nottingham Forest in July 2022 but only made his first start in December. Since then, he has impressed with his defending in one-on-one situations and driving forward runs.
The 24-year-old’s form dropped off towards the end of the season after Udogie reclaimed his spot at left-back, but Spence’s versatility means his place in the squad should be secure.
Destiny Udogie
Age: 22
Contract expires: 2030
Udogie underwent surgery on his quadriceps in April 2024 and only had a limited involvement in pre-season. It was clear at the beginning of the campaign that he was undercooked and a hamstring injury in December did not help.
The Italy international was sensational in the knockout stages of the Europa League after he recovered. He defended superbly and looked much sharper going forward. He should have recorded an assist in the final, but Dominic Solanke’s heavy first touch ruined the goalscoring opportunity. Maybe Udogie and Porro have been helped by the threat of Spence taking their spot.
Micky van de Ven
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2029
The crown jewel in Tottenham’s backline, Van de Ven is an incredible player to watch. For the second season in a row, the Netherlands international has recorded the quickest sprint speed in the Premier League. He is integral to Postecoglou’s high line and opposition strikers do not even bother trying to chase him for the ball.
If Postecoglou leaves, the new manager will love Van de Ven just as much. Qualifying for the Champions League was crucial for keeping players of Van de Ven’s calibre because, if he stays clear of any more injuries and performs consistently at a high level, other teams will surely be interested in signing him.
Ashley Phillips
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2028
Phillips has spent the last 18 months on loan in the Championship with Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City. He made 39 appearances for Stoke this season as they avoided relegation on the final day. Phillips is still young — he turns 20 in June — so there is no need to rush his development.
The next step for the England Under-20 international might be to go on loan to a club competing towards the top of the Championship and then make a genuine effort to break into Spurs’ squad for the 2026-27 season.
Luka Vuskovic
Age: 18
Contract expires: 2030
Two years after Spurs signed Vuskovic, he is finally joining the club from Hadjuk Split. The centre-back had to wait until he turned 18 on February 24 before he could officially make the move. Vuskovic, who has been named in Croatia’s senior squad but not featured yet, is highly rated and impressed on loan in the Belgian top-flight with KVC Westerlo.
He will become the latest member of Tottenham’s talented crop of players under the age of 21, which includes Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel.
Alfie Dorrington
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2029
Dorrington made his first-team debut as a substitute in December’s 5-0 victory over Southampton and the following month joined Aberdeen on loan. He scored an own goal in last weekend’s Scottish Cup final, but it did not matter as the Dons bounced back to beat Celtic on penalties.
Dorrington is contracted until 2029 so expect him to go on loan again and continue his development with regular game time.
Midfielders
Lucas Bergvall
Age: 19
Contract expires: 2031
Bergvall started the season slowly after joining Spurs from Swedish side Djurgarden. Ankle ligament damage prevented him from featuring in the Europa League final, but the teenager belongs in Tottenham’s strongest XI. He is one of the best ball-carrying midfielders in the division, defends tenaciously and has a great passing range. A new contract recognising his growing status was deserved, and it runs until 2031.
Rodrigo Bentancur
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2026
Bentancur’s season was disrupted by a seven-game suspension for racist comments he made about Son Heung-min and two separate concussions. After Christmas, he tightened his grip on the No 6 role and proved to be a better fit than Bissouma. Bentancur turns 28 next month and his contract expires next year. Recent form suggests Spurs would do well to agree to an extension with the experienced Uruguay international.
Yves Bissouma
Age: 28
Contract expires: 2026
Two months ago, it looked like Bissouma might never play for Spurs again. He was substituted at half-time against Fulham and Postecoglou said that “sometimes he lets the game drift him by.” Injuries to Bergvall, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski gave him a shot at redemption, which he took with solid performances in both legs of the semi-final and the final.
If Spurs want to progress, they need to be ruthless. Bissouma’s inconsistency has been a theme throughout his three years in north London. He turns 29 in August and has a year left on his contract, so now is the time to wave goodbye on the high of lifting the Europa League trophy.
Archie Gray
Age: 19
Contract expires: 2030
Gray has had a strange first year at Spurs. He had an extended run in the team at centre-back but only started five times in his preferred role of central midfield. Gray’s temperament, willingness to sacrifice himself for the team and versatility mean he will be a success whatever position he ends up in permanently. Spurs should be building around Gray, Bergvall and Mikey Moore long-term.
Dejan Kulusevski
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2028
The Sweden international was exceptional up until January when fatigue and a foot injury took their toll. Kulusevski thrived after he was moved from the right wing to a central attacking midfield role. He weaved in between opposition defenders for fun and single-handedly dragged his team to victory on a couple of occasions.
The focus for the 25-year-old needs to be on making a speedy recovery from the nasty knee injury he suffered against Crystal Palace earlier this month, with Postecoglou suggesting he would be out for “months”.
James Maddison
Age: 28
Contract expires: 2028
Maddison might be the most infuriating member of Tottenham’s squad. He is capable of producing excellent performances against high-quality opposition but might be all but anonymous the following week. When he is fully fit and in the right mood, the 28-year-old effortlessly controls games.
He was directly involved in 16 goals in 31 appearances. And if you break the numbers down, he scored or recorded an assist on average once every 113 minutes, which is impressive. It will be interesting to see how he handles the Champions League.
Pape Matar Sarr
Age: 22
Contract expires: 2030
Sarr made the most appearances (36) in the top-flight for Spurs in the 2024-25 campaign but only started 22 times. The Senegal international’s boundless energy, long-distance strikes and late runs into the box make him a special talent, but he has been overshadowed this season by Bergvall. Sarr is a fantastic rotational option who will only keep improving.
Alfie Devine
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2027
Devine spent last season on loan with Vuskovic at KVC Westerlo. He was a regular starter for the Belgian side and made 32 appearances in all competitions. Devine will turn up to pre-season determined to prove he is ready for the first team.
Jamie Donley
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2029
Donley’s stock has risen dramatically this season with a collection of viral moments while on loan at Leyton Orient, which include a stunning strike from the halfway line against Man City in the FA Cup (which was eventually given as an own goal).
Donley was used as a left-back in pre-season last summer by Postecoglou, but his technical quality marks him out as a creative force. The 20-year-old deserves to be given a chance with the first team next season or, if that will be harder to do with the Champions League instead of the Europa League, should be playing on loan for a Championship team fighting for promotion.
Wingers
Son Heung-min
Age: 32
Contract expires: 2026
Son, who is 33 in July, will go down as a legend at Spurs for staying to win silverware when others, including Harry Kane, left to achieve their dreams elsewhere.
Son might be the captain, but is he the best left winger in the squad? The answer is probably no, with Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert able to offer more dynamism and energy when they play. Spurs triggered a 12-month contract extension in January, which keeps Son around until 2026, but his future beyond that is uncertain. He will be 34 at the start of the 2026-27 season.
Whisper it quietly, but we are probably approaching the beginning of the end of his memorable spell with Spurs.
Brennan Johnson
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2028
Johnson scored the winner in the final and registered more goals in all competitions than any of his team-mates, but he still divides opinion. The Wales international is exceptional at attacking back-post crosses but is guilty of fading in and out of games far too often. He needs to offer more in possession, but is a solid option on the right wing, and is now a hero among fans to boot.
Mikey Moore
Age: 17
Contract expires: 2027
A nasty virus impacted Moore’s development this season. It is easy to feel impatient, but he does not turn 18 until August and has already made 12 top-flight appearances. With a solid pre-season under his belt, Moore will hopefully feature more next season. The only thing to consider is that Moore is competing with Tel, Odobert, Richarlison and Son for minutes at left wing. It might be better for his development to spend the 2025-26 campaign on loan.
Wilson Odobert
Age: 20
Contact expires: 2029
Odobert’s season was disrupted by hamstring surgery. He showed flashes of his quality when he returned in February, but will be hoping to make a much bigger impact next season.
Mathys Tel
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2031
The highly-rated Tel arrived in February from Bayern Munich on loan, with an option to buy. The France Under-21 international took a while to warm up as he adapted to a new country and club and struggled with the physicality of the Premier League in his first few games. Tel looked more threatening by the end of his loan spell, but Spurs might want to renegotiate with Bayern over the £45.7million fee to make his move permanent.
Manor Solomon
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2028
A meniscus injury disrupted Solomon’s first year with Spurs after joining them from Shakhtar Donetsk in July 2023, and he spent last season on loan with Leeds United. The winger scored 10 times in the Championship, including an added-time winner against Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the season, which secured Leeds the title.
Spurs are stacked with options at left wing, so do not be surprised if Solomon is sold for a profit.
Bryan Gil
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2026
It is time for Spurs to accept their losses with Gil and seek a permanent exit for him. He has never scored for them across 25 league appearances and has not stood out during loan spells with Valencia, Sevilla and Girona. The 24-year-old needs a fresh start.
Yang Min-hyeok
Age: 19
Contract expires: 2030
Yang joined Spurs from South Korean side Gangwon in January and within a few weeks joined Queens Park Rangers on loan. He made 14 appearances and scored twice in the second tier. Yang needs more regular game time before he can think about breaking into the first-team squad permanently, but it would be nice to see him involved during the pre-season tour to Korea and Hong Kong.
Strikers
Richarlison
Age: 28
Contract expires: 2027
Even before he started the Europa League final, Richarlison was destined to become a cult hero. Rarely fit since he joined from Everton in July 2022, the Brazilian still finds a way to score or impact games when he is available. The sight of Richarlison banging a drum in the crowd after beating Manchester United in Bilbao was one of the most iconic images of the night.
Due to his age and injury record, though, it is probably best if he leaves. There was interest from the Saudi Pro League last summer, and clubs may be tempted to try again.
Dominic Solanke
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2030
Tottenham’s £65million club-record signing only scored 16 times in 45 appearances, but his importance to the team goes beyond goals. He leads the press, stretches opposition defences with his runs and drops deep to link play. He is a multi-functional forward at the peak of his career. Spurs need to surround him with better quality players to reach the next level.
Dane Scarlett
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2027
Scarlett’s progress has stalled over the last couple of years with a series of underwhelming loan spells at Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and Oxford United. The forward returned from Oxford in January and scored a crashing header in a crucial victory over Elfsborg in the league phase of the Europa League, but only made five appearances in total. The academy graduate might need a new club to reignite his career.
Will Lankshear
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2029
Lankshear produced an iconic moment when he celebrated right in front of Galatasaray’s ultras when Spurs travelled to Turkey in October. The Premier League 2 Player of the Season in 2023-24 spent the last few months on loan with West Bromwich Albion.
He did not score in 11 appearances, but they were mainly from the bench. Lankshear’s talent is clear to see, but it is probably better that he goes on loan again.
Alejo Veliz
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2029
Veliz’s loan spell with Espanyol started positively when he scored a stoppage-time winner against Rayo Vallecano in his fourth game. The problem is that he never scored for the Spanish side again in La Liga. He did score a hat-trick in the Copa del Rey to take his total in all competitions to four goals in 29 matches.
The Argentina Under-20 international’s last start for Espanyol was on January 17 against Real Valladolid. Veliz turns 22 in September, and the chances of him becoming a success at Spurs feel slim.
Additional reporting: Mark Carey, Thom Harris
(Top photo: Ricardo Larreina/Europa Press via Getty Images)