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Fernandes has detailed how a relentless pursuit by Roberto De Zerbi convinced him to choose Tottenham over a potential move to Man United. The 22-year-old, who arrived in a deal worth a staggering £85 million, explained that the manager’s commitment to his family was a deciding factor. The Portuguese midfielder emphasised that the emotional connection forged during these talks outweighed other offers on the table.

"The way he [De Zerbi] spoke with me and my family was very important for me," Fernandes said in an interview with The Athletic. "He was calling me every day, so I’m very happy to work with him, and hopefully we can do great things.

"It was more about [forming a] connection, because my dad and my mum don’t speak English very well. It was more about feelings. He said he would take care of me, that he would be my second dad in England. I’m very happy to work with him."

While the manager provided the emotional security, World Cup winner Pedro Porro acted as the unofficial chief scout. Porro and Fernandes had previously played together at Sporting CP, and the defender was determined to reunite with his friend. Fernandes recalled a humorous exchange where he missed a call from the Spanish international because he was asleep, only to find a persistent message waiting for him once he finally woke up.

Fernandes revealed the content of that message: "He called me one day, I didn’t answer because I was sleeping. He said, in Portuguese, 'Come on Mateus, you need to play with us, we want you. It was me that told the manager to bring you.' Then when everything was done, I spoke with him a bit about the club, the mentality in the team, the team-mates as well. He’s an important player. He’s one of the best right-backs in the world. He’s a top guy."

The investment is already looking like money well spent after Fernandes enjoyed a dream debut against MK Dons. The midfielder scored a sensational volley on his first outing, which he later described as the finest strike of his career. "It was great, no? It was my favourite goal of my career by a mile," he remarked. "The second one was last season. I need to do this more, to shoot outside the box. I know I can do it."

Despite Fernandes' early heroics, De Zerbi has been cautious with his new star's fitness during the remainder of the pre-season tour. After missing the victory over Chelsea, the manager was quick to play down any injury fears. "Mateus Fernandes can be available right now to play but we don’t want to take any risks with him," De Zerbi confirmed.

Tottenham’s successful swoop is even more impressive given the level of competition for his signature earlier in the window. It has emerged that Real Madrid passed on Fernandes after Jorge Mendes had initially reached an agreement with the Spanish giants.

This opened the door for Spurs to strike, with the club eager to rebuild following a dismal domestic campaign. Tottenham finished 17th last term, with De Zerbi securing final-day survival at the direct expense of Fernandes’ former club, West Ham. Having now endured back-to-back relegations with the Hammers and Southampton, the midfielder will be desperate to help his new manager climb the table and finally find some stability in north London.

Spurs head coach De Zerbi confirmed he would respect Romero's decision to seek a new challenge. The manager revealed a pact made when he arrived at the club in April.

"At the beginning of my time, in April, I had, I don’t know, one million individual meetings," De Zerbi stated, as quoted by Metro. "And [the players] told me what was their idea. I said: ‘Yes, help me to stay up, and then I help you to leave’. If you don’t help me to stay up, you stay underwater with me!

"But Romero with me was unbelievable. Top, in his behaviour, his respect, he suffered when he did not play the last game. It is not true that he wanted to leave for Argentina to prepare for their World Cup. It’s not true."

He added: "After the semi-final [against England] we text a message, but I never called him to convince him to stay. I respected what he told me. Like for [Guglielmo] Vicario, like for every player. Romero as a player is one of the best centre-backs in the world, but at the end I said I want to respect the will of the players."

Tottenham forward Richarlison proved his worth on the pitch once again by scoring a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea during the Sydney Super Cup. However, the headlines following the match in Australia were dominated by De Zerbi’s candid comments regarding the striker's long-term future at the club.

Speaking at the Accor Stadium after the high-profile friendly, De Zerbi confessed that he is not entirely sure what the next few weeks hold for the former Everton man. 'I don't know because I like him as a player and as a guy,' the Italian coach explained to reporters. 'He's unbelievable in terms of attitude and behaviour. But, in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do.'

The core of the issue appears to be Richarlison’s own indecision regarding his commitment to the Tottenham project under De Zerbi. Since joining Spurs from Everton in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth £50m plus £10m in potential add-ons - and helping the club lift the UEFA Europa League title in the 2024–25 season - the forward's future now hangs in the balance. When the Italian coach was pressed further on whether the striker had explicitly asked for a move, he revealed that the signals coming from the player have been inconsistent at best.

De Zerbi detailed the confusion, stating: 'I don't know. I didn't understand well because sometimes he says he wants to stay, sometimes he wants to leave. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem. He's a lovely guy.'

Despite the uncertainty, De Zerbi was quick to praise Richarlison’s contributions during a turbulent campaign for the club. Tottenham’s previous season was marked by severe instability, leading to De Zerbi’s appointment in late March to replace Igor Tudor on a rescue mission - one that ultimately saw Spurs narrowly avoid relegation by finishing 17th. Throughout that chaos, the Brazilian forward still managed to find the net 12 times. The Italian manager is well aware that replacing such a reliable source of goals is a daunting task in the current market, especially given Richarlison’s work rate and professional approach to training.

'For me, he's still an important player because it's not easy to find another striker like Richarlison,' De Zerbi added. 'Richarlison scores goals. He knows the way. With any new striker, we don't know. He scored 12 goals last season, not because of luck but because he knows how to score. All of us love him - the team-mates, the club and the staff - because he works hard every day, seriously every day, and we can't say anything about him on the pitch.'

The debate over Richarlison’s future comes at a time when Tottenham are being incredibly aggressive in the transfer market. The club has already embarked on a record-breaking £237m spending spree as they look to overhaul the squad and compete at the top of the table. Even with Richarlison still on the books, Spurs are reportedly in the hunt for at least two more high-quality attacking additions to provide De Zerbi with more tactical flexibility.

It is understood that Manchester City's Savinho is a primary target for the North London side, while Liverpool's Cody Gakpo has also been heavily linked with a move to the capital. Should Richarlison eventually decide that his future lies away from Tottenham, these moves will become even more critical.

Chelsea suffered a 2-1 defeat against Spurs at Accor Stadium in the second fixture of their pre-season tour. Despite playing against ten men for most of the second half, Alonso's side were undone by a final-minute winner from Richarlison. The London rivalry carried a genuine competitive edge from the opening whistle, featuring strong challenges uncharacteristic of a friendly match. Sandro Tonali gave Spurs an early lead before Estevao Willian quickly equalised for the Blues.

The complexion of the match shifted dramatically four minutes into the second half when Tottenham defender Danso was sent off. Danso misjudged a pass from Archie Gray, allowing Joao Pedro to steal in before being brought down.

Referee Alex King produced a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, a rare decision in pre-season matches. The dismissal forced Spurs onto the back foot as Chelsea took total control of possession and territory.

Alonso named an experienced starting line-up featuring Levi Colwill as captain, alongside Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens. Chelsea pressed relentlessly after the red card, carving out numerous opportunities in search of a lead.

However, Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky proved insurmountable, denying Estevao, Pedro and Palmer with a series of fine saves. Even when Rio Kyerematen rattled the crossbar for Spurs on a rare break, Chelsea continued to push forward in numbers.

With ten minutes remaining, Alonso made extensive personnel changes, introducing youngsters and summer recruits including Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo and Liam Delap. The raft of substitutions disrupted Chelsea's momentum in the closing stages.

Spurs capitalised in the final seconds when Jamie Donley struck the post and Richarlison reacted quickest to stab home the rebound. Alonso's men will now look to refine their sharp edge in their remaining tour fixtures ahead of the new season.

Newcastle are reportedly plotting a major move for Tottenham midfielder Bergvall. However, the Magpies will wait until mid-August to submit their formal offer for the highly-rated Sweden international, according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson. Bergvall is eager to leave north London this summer after falling down the pecking order.

Spurs' recent midfield additions have restricted his pathway to the starting line-up. Tottenham have already rejected a €50 million (£42m) bid from an unnamed English club. The London side are reportedly holding out for a premium fee in the region of £60m before sanctioning a sale.

The strategic delay to August 16 is directly linked to Tonali's recent switch. The Italian midfielder swapped St James' Park for Tottenham on July 2 in a blockbuster transfer. Newcastle are purposefully waiting to avoid triggering UEFA's new 45-day rule regarding player exchanges. Borson clearly explained the financial manoeuvring.

"They may well be waiting just to see what happens with Newcastle because they need to wait for the 45 days to pass so that it's not player exchange from Tonali," Borson told Football Insider. "Once that passes, and I think it's probably about another 16 days for that, that opens up another possible route."

A potential move for Bergvall arrives during a chaotic summer of transition on Tyneside. Widespread reports indicate that manager Eddie Howe is set to leave the club, with Al-Hilal head coach Matthias Jaissle lined up as his immediate replacement. The Magpies have also overseen significant first-team squad turnover. Key figures Anthony Gordon and Tonali have already departed, while midfield lynchpin Bruno Guimaraes appears increasingly likely to join Arsenal.

Newcastle are reportedly plotting a major move for Tottenham midfielder Bergvall. However, the Magpies will wait until mid-August to submit their formal offer for the highly-rated Sweden international, according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson. Bergvall is eager to leave north London this summer after falling down the pecking order.

Spurs' recent midfield additions have restricted his pathway to the starting line-up. Tottenham have already rejected a €50 million (£42m) bid from an unnamed English club. The London side are reportedly holding out for a premium fee in the region of £60m before sanctioning a sale.

The strategic delay to August 16 is directly linked to Tonali's recent switch. The Italian midfielder swapped St James' Park for Tottenham on July 2 in a blockbuster transfer. Newcastle are purposefully waiting to avoid triggering UEFA's new 45-day rule regarding player exchanges. Borson clearly explained the financial manoeuvring.

"They may well be waiting just to see what happens with Newcastle because they need to wait for the 45 days to pass so that it's not player exchange from Tonali," Borson told Football Insider. "Once that passes, and I think it's probably about another 16 days for that, that opens up another possible route."

A potential move for Bergvall arrives during a chaotic summer of transition on Tyneside. Widespread reports indicate that manager Eddie Howe is set to leave the club, with Al-Hilal head coach Matthias Jaissle lined up as his immediate replacement. The Magpies have also overseen significant first-team squad turnover. Key figures Anthony Gordon and Tonali have already departed, while midfield lynchpin Bruno Guimaraes appears increasingly likely to join Arsenal.

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How to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur with a VPN

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A VPN, such as ExpressVPN, allows you to establish a secure, encrypted connection online. By virtually changing your location to a country where the game is being broadcast, you can bypass blackout restrictions and watch your favourite team live. A step-by-step guide is described later in this article, or you can also check out our guide to the best VPNs for streaming sports.

Today's game between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will kick-off at 1 Aug 2026, 10:45.

Step-by-step VPN guide to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur today

NordVPN

Download & Install: Sign up to ExpressVPN or another reputable VPN service (check out GOAL's guide here) and download the app on your device.

Connect to a Server: Open the app and select a server location where the match is being shown (e.g. if you are in the UK but want to watch a US stream, connect to a US server).

Clear Cache: Sometimes your browser holds onto your old location. Clear your cookies or refresh your browser to ensure the change takes effect.

Start Streaming: Go to your broadcaster's website and app and enjoy the game.

How to watch on the Big Screen

Watching on your phone or laptop is fine, but live sports belongs on the big screen. Here is how to get the VPN working on your TV:

Smart TVs & Fire Stick: Most Android-based TVs and devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast with Google TV have native VPN apps. Simply search for your VPN provider in the app store on your TV, log in, and connect just like you would on your phone.

Apple TV, Roku & Consoles: These devices often don't support direct VPN apps. The easiest workaround is to use Smart DNS (usually found in your VPN account settings) or Mirror/Cast the stream from your VPN-connected phone or laptop to your TV.

Team news & squads

No team news has been confirmed for Chelsea ahead of this fixture. Xabi Alonso's squad has been active in the transfer market throughout July, and updates on availability and the projected XI will be added closer to kick-off.

Tottenham have also yet to confirm their squad details for this match. Roberto De Zerbi has been managing minutes carefully across pre-season, and further information on injuries, suspensions, and selection will follow as the fixture approaches.

Form

Chelsea head into this match with a mixed recent record of two wins, one draw, and two losses from their last five outings. Their most recent result was a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in a pre-season friendly on July 28. Earlier in that run, they beat Tottenham 2-1 in the Premier League in May, though they also lost 1-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup and were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland on the final day of the league season. Their five-match spell produced 12 goals scored and eight conceded.

Tottenham arrive with four wins from their last five matches. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw with Sydney FC, settled in their favour 4-2 on penalties. They also beat Auckland FC 2-0 and Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 in pre-season, and closed the Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over Everton. Their only defeat in that period was a 2-1 loss to Chelsea in May. Across the five matches, Spurs scored six goals and conceded four.

Head-to-Head Record

The most recent meeting between these sides ended in a 2-1 Chelsea win at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on May 19, 2026. Across the last five head-to-head fixtures, Chelsea have won four and Tottenham one, with the sole Spurs victory a 3-4 defeat at home in December 2024 — a match Chelsea won despite the scoreline reading in Tottenham's favour as the away side. Chelsea have not lost to Tottenham in the last five meetings, winning by a single goal on three separate occasions.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has fired up the Spurs faithful with intriguing comments, confirming the London club is close to sealing a "spectacular deal" this week. The Italian revealed the team has completed only 60% of its summer transfer plan so far.

His words came to soften the blow of a real setback: an injury to Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi, one of the club's potential targets, who now faces up to four months on the sidelines.

A five-man shortlist to bolster the attack

According to the British newspaper "Evening Standard", Tottenham have drawn up a five-man shortlist to reinforce the attacking line before the market closes. Topping the list is Egyptian star Omar Marmoush, the Manchester City forward, in whom Spurs have shown serious interest.

Competing with Marmoush for that attacking spot are Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav, Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey, Manchester City's Brazilian Savinho and Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola.

Marmoush: a talent seeking to rescue De Zerbi

Marmoush particularly appeals to De Zerbi. His versatility stands out, with the ability to lead the line as an out-and-out striker or drop deep and exploit the spaces behind defenders.

Approaching his 27th year, Marmoush is a player the Italian sees as having reached footballing maturity, one who can slot straight in after two seasons of relegation battles at Spurs.

Marmoush had joined Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 and made a striking start in the Premier League. He couldn't sustain that goalscoring rhythm, though. In his first full season with City he scored only 3 goals, gradually drifting out of the club's plans until he no longer featured in their future thinking.

De Zerbi reckons Marmoush proved his goalscoring credentials in the Premier League despite last season's struggles. The player simply needs to rediscover his confidence in front of goal under him, the manager believes, to become one of Tottenham's trump cards for the new season.

Today's game between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will kick-off at Aug 1, 2026, 5:45 AM.

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur is available to watch live in the United States. TV channel and live stream options are listed below.

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Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur meet in a Club Friendly as both London clubs continue their pre-season preparations ahead of the new campaign.

For Chelsea, this summer has been defined by sweeping change. Xabi Alonso has taken the reins at Stamford Bridge, and the club has moved quickly in the transfer market, bringing in France international Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52 million and completing a club-record £117 million deal for Morgan Rogers. Jordan Henderson has also terminated his contract at Brentford and is set to arrive as a free agent.

Tottenham have matched that energy in the market. Roberto De Zerbi has spent close to £240 million already this summer, with Sandro Tonali arriving from Newcastle United in a £100 million deal. De Zerbi has made clear he is not finished, describing himself as a shark when it comes to recruitment.

Spurs arrive in decent pre-season shape. Mathys Tel scored a spectacular 25-yard free-kick in their 1-1 draw with Sydney FC, which they won on penalties, and the club has won three of its summer fixtures so far.

Chelsea's most recent outing was a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, a result that showed attacking intent even if the defensive numbers raised questions. Cole Palmer has been in the headlines off the pitch too, joking that new team-mate Morgan Rogers faces legal action for using his trademarked goal celebration.

Both squads are building momentum as the season approaches, and this London derby provides a useful measure of where each side stands.

Here is everything you need to know about where to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur, including TV channel, live stream options, and kick-off time.

How to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur with VPN

If you are travelling abroad or just want to access your usual streaming services from a different part of the world, you may run into geo-restrictions. This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes in handy.

A VPN, such as ExpressVPN, allows you to establish a secure, encrypted connection online. By virtually changing your location to a country where the game is being broadcast, you can bypass blackout restrictions and watch your favourite team live. A step-by-step guide is described later in this article, or you can also check out our guide to the best VPNs for streaming sports.

Team news & squads

No official team news has been provided for either side ahead of this fixture. Chelsea have been active in the transfer market this summer, adding Maxence Lacroix, Morgan Rogers, and Jordan Henderson to their squad, though confirmed injury or suspension information is not currently available. Tottenham are similarly without confirmed fitness updates, and no probable lineup has been submitted for either team. Further details will be added closer to kick-off.

Form

Chelsea head into this match with a mixed recent record of two wins, one draw, and two losses across their last five outings. Their most recent result was a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in a Club Friendly on July 28, while earlier in the summer they fell 0-1 to Manchester City in the FA Cup. Across those five matches, Chelsea scored 11 goals but conceded seven, reflecting an open and at times vulnerable defensive record. Their only Premier League win in that run came against Tottenham themselves, a 2-1 victory on May 19.

Tottenham arrive with stronger recent momentum, recording four wins from their last five matches. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw with Sydney FC on July 29, which they converted into a win via a penalty shoot-out, following a 0-2 victory over Auckland FC three days earlier. Spurs beat Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 in their first pre-season outing and closed the Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over Everton. Their only defeat in this run came against Chelsea, that 2-1 loss on May 19.

Head-to-Head Record

The most recent meeting between these two clubs ended in a 2-1 Chelsea win at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on May 19, 2026. Across the last five head-to-head fixtures, Chelsea hold the stronger record, winning four of the five meetings while Tottenham have won none. Chelsea have scored 10 goals across those five matches compared to five for Spurs, with the most dramatic encounter being a 4-3 Chelsea win at Tottenham in December 2024.

Standings

Step-by-step VPN guide to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur today

NordVPN

Download & Install: Sign up to ExpressVPN or another reputable VPN service (check out GOAL's guide here) and download the app on your device.

Connect to a Server: Open the app and select a server location where the match is being shown (e.g. if you are in the UK but want to watch a US stream, connect to a US server).

Clear Cache: Sometimes your browser holds onto your old location. Clear your cookies or refresh your browser to ensure the change takes effect.

Start Streaming: Go to your broadcaster's website and app and enjoy the game.

How to watch on the Big Screen

Watching on your phone or laptop is fine, but live sports belongs on the big screen. Here is how to get the VPN working on your TV:

In an interview with the Daily Mail in Sydney, Tonali stressed his desire to secure the best possible deal for Newcastle after everything the club had done for his career: "The first thing was to get the best deal for Newcastle.

"I met there some of the best people for football. They love football. They live for football. When I decided to move, I said to my agent and to Ross Wilson that I wanted the best deal for Newcastle because they deserve everything. This is football. Sometimes you have to understand how everything can change in your life in five minutes."

He then explained how Newcastle’s £100m price tag ruled out a potential return to Serie A due to the financial limitations of Italian clubs, ultimately leading him to choose Spurs: "We stayed three years in Newcastle and after three years, we spoke all together, me and my family. It was impossible for the money.

"For the salary, you can speak all the time, but if you don’t find the money for the transfer, you don’t have the chance to move. England was our solution and we found the best solution in England for me, for my career, for my football, for my happiness, for my family. I spoke with two teams. I understood after 10, 15 minutes that Tottenham would be my next team."

Tonali, who was also targeted by Manchester City, highlighted the crucial role De Zerbi played and the conviction shown by Spurs in persuading him and his family: "After the last season, I spoke with my wife. We wanted to change our life. Not just for the city. We wanted to change everything.

"We spoke with two clubs. When we spoke with Tottenham, we decided to sign for this team. They spoke with 100 per cent passion, 100 per cent seriousness. For this city, for my life outside of football for my family, OK, it’s like 10 per cent.

"Roberto and the director made the difference to the deal. I spoke after two minutes with my wife and my family and I said, 'Probably it will be one of my best decisions of my career'. She told me, 'You have 100 per cent the control over this decision'."

The midfielder added the vision De Zerbi shared to motivate the Spurs squad ahead of the upcoming campaign: "Roberto said the project will be tough but will be perfect for me, for you, for the city, an we can do one of the best seasons because we have big players. We just have to put a lot of work in."

Alongside landing Tonali, Spurs also splashed out £85m to bring in Mateus Fernandes from West Ham to complete their midfield overhaul. Addressing his new status as a £100m player, Tonali insisted he is ready to embrace the pressure: "You have to understand that this is football. The price is different now to 10 years ago.

"I know I have a lot of pressure but I know I’m a football player, I know my responsibilities, I know this team, I know the people here. I have to play like I’m a normal player, a normal Tottenham player, with passion, putting my energy in every day. It’s not £1m, £10m, or £100m. You just have to be a passionate player for this gaffer."

Tonali previously spent a decade in Italy with Brescia, De Zerbi's hometown, where the two shared a special connection. Reflecting on his early impressions of working under De Zerbi, Tonali revealed: "We spoke about him, about his work, about the passion that he puts into every single moment with the team for this work and I think now, after two weeks, I know everything is real."

He concluded by comparing Howe's management style at Newcastle with the tactical approach De Zerbi is implementing at Tottenham: "All gaffers are different. I passed three years with Eddie and he was fantastic, especially for me. But now I’ve found a different gaffer who works a lot on the pitch, a lot with the tactics, a lot with the ball. We love to play with the ball because we are a big team with big players."