Tottenham Hotspur have a huge rebuilding job to do.
They have burned through four head coaches in 12 months and narrowly avoided relegation. Roberto De Zerbi has had a positive impact since he joined in March despite inheriting an injury crisis after the final-day win over Everton that Spurs only have “10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay”.
The squad is unbalanced and The Athletic reported earlier this week that signing a new left winger and central midfielder are high on the priority list. There is a lot of uncertainty around the futures of Guglielmo Vicario and Richarlison while there is a strong chance captain Cristian Romero will leave.
There are nearly 30 senior players with highly-rated academy graduates and talented prospects returning from loan moves.
Spurs are expected to sign Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, but they have been left out of the breakdown below because those deals have not been completed. Randal Kolo Muani has been omitted following the expiry of his loan deal, but Joao Palhinha is included because Spurs are discussing signing him permanently from Bayern Munich.
Here, The Athletic breaks down the state of Tottenham’s squad and what should happen next.
Goalkeepers
Guglielmo Vicario
Age: 29
Contract expires: 2028
It has been a difficult season for the Italy international. Vicario produced a couple of impressive performances but was booed by supporters for an awful mistake in November’s damaging 2-0 defeat to Fulham. The 29-year-old then underwent a hernia operation in March. Antonin Kinsky seized the opportunity and showed he might be a better fit for De Zerbi’s plans. Vicario has two years left on his contract, so it could be tempting to sell him this summer before his value starts to drop.
Antonin Kinsky
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2031
Kinsky bounced back superbly from a nightmare performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League to become a key player for Spurs in their relegation fight. The 23-year-old started their last seven games and made some crucial saves. After beating Everton, Kinsky said the hardest period of the season was “six months on the bench.” He deserves to start next season as the first-choice goalkeeper.
Brandon Austin
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2029
The academy graduate did not make a single appearance in the 2025-26 campaign. Austin has been important over the last few years to help Spurs fulfil their homegrown player quota for UEFA competitions but they are not in Europe next season. He signed a contract in May 2024 which still has three years left to run.
Defenders
Ben Davies
Age: 33
Contract expires: 2026
Davies has been an incredible servant for Spurs over the last 11 years but the expected arrivals of Robertson and Senesi will increase competition. It might be the right time for the Wales international to leave when his contract expires. If he does depart, it is a shame he did not end on a high as his last appearance was in January’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United.
Jun’ai Byfield
Age: 17
Contract expires: N/A
Talented defender made his senior debut this season with a half-hour cameo against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Byfield signed his first professional contract in December, a few days after turning 17. Spurs need to decide whether he should stay with the under-21s and challenge for the first team, or head out on loan.
Radu Dragusin
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2030
Dragusin missed the first half of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and found opportunities limited when he returned. Cristian Romero and Kevin Danso are ahead of him in the pecking order at right-sided centre-back. The Athletic reported earlier this week that Spurs will replace Romero if he leaves and Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who previously worked with De Zerbi, is on their list of targets. Vuskovic could be integrated into the squad after an impressive season on loan with German side Hamburg. It looks like Spurs will be overstocked with centre-backs and, as a result, Dragusin could be sold.
Kevin Danso
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2030
Danso has established himself as a reliable defender. He might not possess the same silky passing range as Romero but he never causes any drama. Danso should be an important squad member going forward.
Ashley Phillips
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2028
Phillips has spent the last two seasons on loan with Stoke City and even captained them in March’s 3-3 draw with Ipswich Town. Spurs have so many centre-backs that the best option might be to sell the 20-year-old as his contract expires in 2028. It would be a shame, though, as he has never been given a chance to show his quality since moving to north London from Blackburn Rovers in August 2023.
Pedro Porro
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2028
Porro’s contract expires in 2028, so it is vital Spurs secure his long-term future as soon as possible. The right-back created 53 chances this season, which is more than any other Spurs player and significantly higher than second-placed Xavi Simons (34). Spurs face a challenge to keep the Spain international as Real Madrid are interested in signing him. Madrid’s top target at right-back is Inter’s Denzel Dumfries but Porro and Ivan Fresneda are the other options being considered.
Cristian Romero
Age: 28
Contract expires: 2029
The centre-back signed a new contract last year that runs until 2029 but has been critical of the club’s hierarchy in social media posts on multiple occasions and his form has been mixed. The Argentina international has only played more than 30 league games in a single season once for Spurs since he joined them in 2021 due to a combination of injuries and suspension. It might be best for everyone to mutually agree to part ways.
Souza
Age: 19
Contract expires: N/A
De Zerbi is a huge fan of Brazilian defender Souza, who turns 20 later this month. Souza joined Spurs from Santos in January and made four appearances. The full-back’s game time will be limited by Udogie and Robertson next season, so the smartest option would be to send him on loan.
Djed Spence
Age: 25
Contract expires: N/A
Spence’s form dipped last season but, on his day, he is one of the best full-backs in the Premier League in one-v-one defending situations — something which England head coach Thomas Tuchel has publicly acknowledged. Spence signed a new long-term contract in August 2025. If, as expected, Spurs complete the signing of Robertson from Liverpool, it means the versatile Spence can focus on challenging Porro to be first-choice right-back.
Kota Takai
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2030
The Japan international struggled with a foot injury after he joined Spurs last summer. A temporary move to Borussia Monchengladbach was supposed to give the centre-back regular game time but he only made eight appearances with just three of them starts. The 21-year-old would probably benefit from another loan due to the competition in defence.
Destiny Udogie
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2030
The Italy international makes a huge difference to this team when he is available but has struggled with knee and hamstring injuries. It will be interesting to see how his body handles a season without European football.
Micky van de Ven
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2029
Van de Ven overcame the hamstring problems which impacted his first two years in north London to make 45 appearances this season. The Netherlands international endured a mixed campaign and the nadir came when he was sent off in March’s 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. He started reminding everybody of his quality following De Zerbi’s appointment. Van de Ven has a great relationship with his new head coach, who has praised him as the “best left-sided centre-back” in the division. The 25-year-old’s contract expires in 2029 and discussions are expected about tying him down to a new deal.
Luka Vuskovic
Age: 19
Contract expires: 2030
Vuskovic caught the attention of clubs across Europe with his impressive performances for Hamburg. There have been discussions about the 19-year-old signing a new contract with Spurs but he will wait until after the World Cup before deciding. Hamburg would be very interested in him returning on loan, but currently don’t see it as a possibility.
Midfielders
Rodrigo Bentancur
Age: 28
Contract expires: N/A
It is no coincidence that Spurs failed to win a game while Rodrigo Bentancur was recovering from a hamstring injury. The Uruguay international made an immediate impact when he returned and helped Spurs to win 11 points out of a possible 18 from their last six games. The 28-year-old signed a new long-term contract in October. Spurs want to sign a progressive central midfielder this summer and they could form a solid partnership with Bentancur.
Lucas Bergvall
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2031
Bergvall’s rapid development was one of the highlights of the 2024-25 season but things have not been so smooth over the last 10 months. Bergvall missed eight games following ankle surgery and was reduced to a bit-part role under De Zerbi after starting his first match in charge against Sunderland.
He made 23 appearances but only started 11 times for a total of 966 minutes. Bergvall will be hoping to play regularly for Sweden at this summer’s World Cup and use it to boost his confidence ahead of pre-season. The 20-year-old is contracted at Spurs until 2031 but The Athletic reported in February that he was the subject of interest from Aston Villa and Chelsea in the winter transfer window.
Yves Bissouma
Age: 29
Contract expires: 2026
Bissouma’s season started badly when then head coach Thomas Frank left him out of the UEFA Super Cup squad for persistent timekeeping issues. The Mali international missed a chunk of the season through injury and only made 11 appearances. Bissouma never lived up to the hype in north London and the expiration of his contract in June is the right time to move on.
Conor Gallagher
Age: 26
Contract expires: N/A
It took longer than expected for Gallagher to flourish at Spurs after joining from Atletico Madrid in January but his stunning long-range goal in May’s victory over Aston Villa represented a turning point. Gallagher has been honest in public about the underwhelming start to his Spurs career but is full of praise for De Zerbi for improving his mood and performances. Gallagher is a hard-working, energetic midfielder in the prime of his career who just needs to be surrounded by the right players to balance his strengths and weaknesses.
Archie Gray
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2030
Gray has proven his value to Spurs over and over again since he joined them from Leeds United in July 2024. The England Under-21 international has played every position in defence and holding midfield. Gray was used sparingly by De Zerbi at the end of the season, but he will hope to settle into a specific role under the Italian.
Dejan Kulusevski
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2028
It is a huge shame Kulusevski missed the entire season with a knee injury. Capable of playing centrally or on the right wing, the Sweden international was exceptional at the start of the 2024-25 season but lost his sparkle due to fatigue. The most important thing is making sure Kulusevski has fully recovered from his patella (kneecap) injury before he is thrown back into action. Hopefully, the 26-year-old will be ready for pre-season and can have a huge impact under De Zerbi. Crucially, Kulusevski still has two years left on his contract so he is under no pressure to rush back to earn a new deal.
James Maddison
Age: 29
Contract expires: 2028
Maddison’s impact on the squad was clear to see in the final three games of the season. The midfielder’s return from an ACL injury galvanised his team-mates and the supporters. There are two years remaining on his contract and he should be an important part of De Zerbi’s plans. Maddison’s behaviour in the last few weeks of the campaign, travelling to away games despite being unfit just so he could support the squad, suggests he could be the perfect candidate to replace Romero as captain if the defender leaves.
Joao Palhinha
Age: 30
Loan
Palhinha’s loan move from Bayern Munich contained an option to make the deal permanent for €30million. De Zerbi said he wants to keep the central midfielder “100 per cent.” Palhinha described his relationship with Spurs as “like a marriage” and “I would really like to be here and I enjoy it a lot this season with this club, even having a tough season.” Spurs have not triggered the option yet but are working on a deal.
Pape Matar Sarr
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2030
Sarr was Frank’s star pupil at the beginning of the season but his form tailed off. The midfielder has been with Spurs for four seasons and it feels like his development has stalled over the last two years. The Senegal international turns 24 in September and his contract does not expire until 2030. However, a tough decision needs to be made about whether he can reach the next level at Spurs or if he should make way for a new signing.
Xavi Simons
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2030
It took time for Xavi to settle at Spurs, which is partially because he arrived so late last summer. He only scored two goals in the league but constantly tried to make things happen with inventive passes and slaloming runs. It is a huge shame he suffered an ACL injury in April and it is unlikely he will play again in 2026. When the Netherlands international is fully fit again, he could flourish as a No 10 under De Zerbi.
Luca Williams-Barnett
Age: 17
Contract expires: N/A
Williams-Barnett falls into the same category as his academy team-mate Byfield. Spurs have to work out the best development plan for the attacking midfielder who made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers a few days before turning 17.
Forwards
Mohammed Kudus
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2031
Kudus finished the season with five assists, the joint-highest in the squad along with Xavi, despite only playing 19 games. The Ghana international picked up a hamstring injury in January and then suffered a setback in April, which meant he did not play a single game under Igor Tudor or De Zerbi. The issue has forced him to miss the World Cup too. De Zerbi will be praying Kudus is fit for the start of next season so he can reclaim his position as the first-choice right winger. Nobody else comes close to matching the 25-year-old’s quality in one-v-one situations.
Wilson Odobert
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2029
Odobert has endured a rotten time with injuries. The France Under-21 international’s debut season was ruined by a recurring hamstring issue and then he suffered an ACL injury in February. Frank prioritised Odobert’s development over Mathys Tel and was repaid with two assists and zero goals in 24 appearances. It is unlikely Odobert will be fit for the start of the season but he could return before the end of 2026.
Richarlison
Age: 29
Contract expires: 2027
Richarlison was Tottenham’s top goalscorer (11) in the league this season but he has never looked like the right fit up front. The 29-year-old only has 12 months left on his contract. Spurs need to tie him down to a new deal or sell him in this window to prevent him from leaving for free next summer.
Dane Scarlett
Age: 22
Contract expires: 2027
Scarlett was once the great hope of Tottenham’s academy but he has struggled to live up to his potential in multiple loans. He scored just once in 13 appearances for Hibernian in the second half of the season. Scarlett probably needs to find a permanent home to reignite his career.
Dominic Solanke
Age: 28
Contract expires: 2030
Solanke missed the bulk of the first half of the season with an ankle injury and struggled to make an impact when he returned. He scored twice in February’s draw against Manchester City which turned out to be the highlight of his campaign. The 28-year-old picked up a muscle injury in April’s victory against Wolves and then suffered the added blow of being overlooked for England’s World Cup squad. Solanke is a fantastic, unique striker and the aim for Spurs next season is to keep him fully fit.
Mathys Tel
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2031
Tel played regularly under Tudor and De Zerbi but that was mainly due to other attacking players being injured. There have been a few bright moments and his attitude has been exemplary when the commitment of more experienced players has been called into question. However, one of Spurs’ priorities this summer is to sign a quality left winger, which could mean Tel is back on the bench next season.
Will Lankshear
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2029
Lankshear seized his opportunity on loan with Oxford United. He scored 11 goals in 44 Championship appearances and was named their Young Player of the Season. The forward faces a tricky decision over whether to stay at Spurs and risk not playing a lot, or seize on the momentum from his spell with Oxford and move to a different club.
Yang Min-hyeok
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2030
Started the season in the Championship on loan with Portsmouth and scored three goals before moving to eventual title-winners Coventry City in January. The move backfired as he only made three appearances under Frank Lampard and was left out of the matchday squad on multiple occasions. It seems unlikely he will be ready to challenge for a place in De Zerbi’s squad and might need another temporary spell away.
Mikey Moore
Age: 18
Contract expires: N/A
A loan spell with Rangers has done wonders for his confidence and shown he can perform under intense pressure. Supporters are desperate for Moore to succeed and now could be the right time to break into the squad with so many forwards struggling with injury.