London Evening Standard

Tottenham have unveiled their new home and away kits for the upcoming 2026-27 season, with one key player missing.

The Nike designs are being marketed as “the start of a new era built on reconnection with fans, the local community and heritage.”

The likes of men’s players Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Mathys Tel, Archie Gary, Conor Gallagher, Destiny Udogie and Dominic Solanke join fans young and old to offer the first look at the new shirts.

But Romero, the men’s club captain, has not been included. Bethany England was the women’s club captain, but has already announced her exit this summer, and is also not involved.

Gray, often tipped as a future Spurs captain, is front and centre of the home kit unveil, while Maddison, tipped as a possible immediate successor to Romero should he leave, fronts the away kit launch.

Romero is widely expected to leave the club this summer, despite being made skipper and signing a new contract 10 months ago.

It is a surprise move then, with Atletico Madrid pursuing the centre-back.

The Spanish giants are expected to compete for his signature again this summer, though Romero’s involvement with Argentina at the World Cup will likely delay any Spurs exit.

Manchester United have also been linked with a move for Romero, though further reports downplayed the club’s interest.

Romero has been a vocal critic of the club hierarchy during two years of underachievement, which has seen Spurs finish 17th in back-to-back Premier League campaigns.

The World Cup winner almost missed the club’s final-day relegation-decider, having instead said to have prioritised the final of the Argentine Championship between boyhood club Belgrano and River Plate.

Come game-day, Romero was at the stadium as Spurs beat Everton to avoid relegation by two points.

Tottenham have wasted no time bolstering Roberto De Zerbi’s squad, and have already signed three defender - two of them centre-backs.

Marcos Senesi has arrived on a free transfer from Bournemouth and, on Thursday, Jan Paul van Hecke’s £52million move from Brighton was confirmed.

Those two, along with Kevin Danso and potentially teenager Luka Vuskovic will compete with Van de Ven for first-team starts next season.

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Spurs are closing in on their third signing of the summer after reaching an agreement with fellow Premier League side Brighton for the central defender.

With regard to Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi - two players who will join the club officially on July 1 - Spurs were able to finalise those free transfers before the World Cup got underway.

Whereas the agreement for Van Hecke was struck after the Netherlands’ opening game of the tournament - a 2-2 draw with Japan last Sunday.

Nevertheless, completing a deal for the Dutchman does not necessarily depend on how far Ronald Koeman’s side go in North America as he’s already confirmed his stance on transfers taking place during the World Cup.

"Ideally, I would prefer a player to have peace of mind regarding his club,” Koeman said in a news conference. And that there is clarity about the future.

"First of all, I just want to focus on the Dutch national team,” he told reporters before the draw with Japan.

“That is a very important match for us, for me. So that’s my focus until now. Of course, things are also playing, and I know that myself too. But that’s not for now, that’s more after the World Cup. I will then see where I play.

“I have also said very clearly that I would like to have clarity for myself before the World Cup. And I have that too. But then for now for myself it’s just clear. I just want to play the World Cup as well as possible.

Standard Sport understands Spurs will pay a £52million fixed fee for the 26-year-old, with no add-ons.

It had been reported earlier in the week that the Seagulls had tried to include Tottenham’s centre-back Luka Vuskovic as part of a swap deal for Van Hecke.

That deal, though, is believed to be separate with further reports suggesting that a £35m bid for Vuskovic has been rejected by Spurs.

Van Hecke looks set to become Spurs’ third signing of the summer after the arrivals of Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson.

He has previously worked with Roberto De Zerbi at the Amex Stadium and is noted as one of the most accomplished ball-playing defenders in the Premier League.

Van Hecke’s arrival is the latest signal of intent in the transfer market from Spurs, who are determined put last season’s 17th place finish behind them.

The north London club are targeting Premier League proven players and have also been credited with interest in Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and Manchester City winger Savinho.

Reports suggest that Spurs have been in touch with Tonali’s representatives in a deal backed by De Zerbi and the club’s ownership.

It is, however, believed that any fee would have to be substantial to prize him away from Newcastle, who spent £55m to sign him from AC Milan in 2023.

Roberto De Zerbi is pushing for big-name reinforcements with the backing of the club owners

Sam Tabuteau

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

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Tottenham are in the market for a statement signing to underline their commitment to Roberto De Zerbi ahead of next season.

After successive 17th-place finishes, Spurs are determined to push on under the deeply ambitious, but combustible, De Zerbi after he secured Premier League survival on the final day with a 1-0 win at home to Everton last month.

In looking for a player to raise the ceiling for a squad desperately short of technical quality, they appear to have landed on Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, with De Zerbi keen to bring his fellow countryman to north London.

The Spurs ownership are also backing De Zerbi in his pursuit of Tonali, though contact has only been made with his representatives and not with Newcastle.

The upside of any deal is obvious for Spurs, who lack creativity in the middle of the park. But what is in it for Tonali? This, after all, is a player who has courted the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs since first drawing parallels to the effortlessly classy Italian World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo while he was at Brescia.

Target: Sandro Tonali

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Highly rated since a young age, Tonali is now 26 and at a crossroads following a disappointing season at Newcastle as they struggled to build on their 2025 Carabao Cup triumph.

There is change in the air at Newcastle, with Anthony Gordon having sealed a move to Barcelona, while head of recruitment Steve Nickson is set to move on after 15 years at the club.

If ever there was a moment for Tonali, in the prime of his career, to leave Newcastle, then this summer feels like a realistic opportunity.

Despite unprecedented struggles domestically over the last two seasons Spurs remain an attractive proposition and will fancy themselves to challenge for the European places again if they can show ambition in the transfer window.

Pulling off a surprise move for Tonali would be a clear sign of that ambition, and De Zerbi certainly has the gravitas to convince the former AC Milan man to buy into his project.

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De Zerbi has consistently talked up Spurs’ prospects since taking charge of the club, but he has also been clear that wholesale personnel changes need to be made to the squad.

Midfield is not a priority position for Spurs, who will surely look to address their ailing attack this summer.

But if Tonali is available, the club must strike, such is his ability to withstand pressure and play line breaking passes from deep.

Manager: Roberto De Zerbi

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Spurs’ recruitment, particularly in midfield, has favoured physical output over technical ability since Johan Lange took charge first as technical director and then as sporting director.

This has left Spurs struggling to dictate games in possession when the onus is on them to come out and break teams down - they completed the joint fewest number of through balls (28) with Leeds last season.

Tonali will help fix this while also bridging the gap between defence and attack by getting on the ball and driving forward.

It remains unclear how realistic a move for Tonali would be, with any fee expected to be substantial, but Spurs hold an interest and are keen to test Newcastle’s resolve.

Following the additions of Premier League-proven defenders Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, Tonali would be the marquee signing that supporters have been craving.

Spurs would show they mean business if they were to seal an audacious move for Tonali. The question is whether De Zerbi can convince him that the club have learnt from the mistakes of last season.

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Joe Newton, who worked with Frank at both Brentford and Spurs, defends decision-making process during short tenure

Sam Tabuteau

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

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Former Tottenham analyst Joe Newton has described Spurs as a "completely different beast" to Brentford after revealing where it all went wrong for Thomas Frank last season.

Newton was one of three members of Frank’s backroom staff at Brentford to initially join the Dane when he took charge of Spurs last summer.

Despite a positive first couple of months, Newton then left Spurs in February after Frank was sacked, as results spiralled after the turn of the year.

It was a tricky period for Newton, who had enjoyed a lot of success at Brentford, and, looking back, he admits the scale of the job and the scrutiny that came with it were evident from the outset.

Speaking to the Chris Gill Podcast, which covers analysis, scouting and recruitment within football, Newton admitted he was taken aback by the publicity he received after it was announced that he would be leaving Brentford to join Spurs.

“It's no disrespect to Brentford - they have done absolutely amazing, and I am thankful that I was part of that growth into the Premier League. But it's another completely different beast going into a club like Spurs,” Newton said.

“I even remember when we used to go there with Brentford, and being told that the south stand in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium holds as many [fans] as the Gtech (Community Stadium).

Short-lived spell: Thomas Frank was sacked by Tottenham in February after just eight months in charge

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“So in terms of those sorts of facilities that we went into at Spurs, it's just on a completely different level.

“That expectation, I think as well, not took me by surprise, but obviously the sort of publicity around me specifically, going in with Thomas, my name was getting mentioned in articles and things.

“And honestly, for about a week, my phone was blowing up, and it was crazy. So that sort of made me realise quite early that it was obviously, I knew it anyway, but a big club that you're going into and that expectation.”

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Spurs started brightly under Frank and pulled off an impressive 2-0 win away to Manchester City in just his second Premier League game at the helm.

Balancing Champions League and Premier League commitments, though, soon became a challenge and one that Newton and Frank had not experienced before.

Spurs’ league form plummeted quickly, and for Newton, the lack of time on the training ground, coupled with the club’s injury crisis, proved a real issue.

“The European games we were playing every three to four days, obviously, that limits your training time, prep time, everything's quicker,” Newton continued.

“Turnaround of games, analysis, meetings and player availability. It did end up sort of piling up.”

Spurs failed to win any of Frank’s final eight league games in charge, and Newton acknowledges that by the end of his tenure, “everything that could go wrong was going wrong”.

“I'd say that I'd look back at my processes and, of course, in hindsight, there might be an odd thing here and there I would have done differently,” he said. “But in general, I don't think I could have done any more.

“Because of the way Thomas works in terms of having these coaches meetings pretty much every day, we obviously came to decisions that you might from the outside think, ‘why on earth have they done that?’

“But every sort of scenario and the information that was passed to us, I think if you put us back in that situation, taking hindsight out, I think you would still end up coming to the same decision because I feel the process in terms of how we got to that decision was right.

“Some things just weren't going for us, and by the end of it, it felt like everything that could go wrong was going wrong.”

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The right-back, who had reportedly been linked with a move away from north London, has committed his future to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, penning a deal that runs until 2031.

The Spaniard featured 47 times in all competitions for Spurs last term as they scraped Premier League survival by the skin of their teeth.

He became a key figure under new boss Roberto De Zerbi, and sporting director Johan Lange insisted that retaining Porro’s services was a “priority” for the club.

“During the past three-and-half years, he has made huge progress to become one of the best full-backs in the game, and the fact he is about to play in the World Cup for Spain is testament to that.

“Pedro is at an age where he can provide leadership and experience, while still having room for further development.

“His character, work ethic and quality are exactly what we look for when building a squad capable of competing at the highest level and we are delighted that he has chosen to continue his journey with the club.”

Porro, who joined Spurs initially on loan from Sporting Lisbon back in 2023, has made 152 appearances for the club and has cemented himself as a permanent fixture in De Zerbi’s plans.

“Pedro is a very important player for us, who has consistently shown his ability to influence matches in both defensive and attacking situations,” the former Brighton manager said.

“As well as his technical quality, I also love his mentality. Every day he wants to work, to learn and to improve, and these are the characteristics that help players reach the highest level.

“He understands football in a very intelligent way, and brings energy, intensity and personality to the team.

“This new contract is good news for everyone at the Club. We believe in Pedro, and I am excited to continue working with him and helping him achieve even more in the coming years.”

Spurs have seen two bids for the Brighton centre-back rejected, though a third offer is thought to be imminent with the Van Hecke said to be keen on a reunion with former manager Roberto De Zerbi.

The Netherlands international is currently preparing to potentially make his World Cup debut on Sunday against Japan, but has spoken out about his future for the first time since links to Tottenham emerged.

“That is a very important match for us, for me. So that’s my focus until now. Of course, things are also playing, and I know that myself too. But that’s not for now, that’s more after the World Cup. I will then see where I play.

“I have also said very clearly that I would like to have clarity for myself before the World Cup. And I have that too. But then for now for myself it’s just clear. I just want to play the World Cup as well as possible.

“That clarity will probably come after the World Cup when when I make that step, then it’s clear to everyone."

The teenager, who is in the Croatia squad for the World Cup, is keen to play regularly next season thus leaving Spurs with a big decision to make.

The 19-year-old spent this season on loan at Hamburg in Germany and further enhanced his reputation as one of Europe's brightest young defenders.

Vuskovic has yet to make his competitive debut for Spurs and the club are now considering the possibility of letting him leave without ever doing so.

Several clubs across Europe are keen on the teenager - who Tottenham signed from Hajduk Split for around £12m - and Brighton have made their move with a £30m offer.

While that is believed to fall below Spurs' valuation of the player, it is understood that joining the Seagulls would appeal to Vuskovic. His priority is securing regular first-team football for next season.

With it being far from certain that he would be a first-choice centre-back at Tottenham under Roberto De Zerbi, the Croatian is open to options elsewhere and he admires Brighton's history of developing players.

De Zerbi is desperate to sign the Dutchman and Spurs have so far had two bids rejected by Brighton for his services.

The Seagulls value Van Hecke at around £70m, despite the fact that the centre-back, 26, is about to enter the final year of his contract.

Van Hecke's priority is to join Spurs and work under De Zerbi again, having previously played for him when the Italian was in charge at Brighton.

The arrival of Van Hecke would further complicate Vuskovic's path into the Tottenham side, even if Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin both leave the club this summer, as currently appears likely.

De Zerbi has also confirmed that Kevin Danso will remain at the club next season and Ben Davies was this week handed a one-year contract extension.

With no European football after a disastrous campaign that saw Tottenham threatened by relegation from the Premier League until the final day, there will be limited minutes for De Zerbi to share around next season.

The Italian has been handed significant influence over Spurs' transfer business. He is leading the push to sign Van Hecke and is keen to have the Dutchman join compatriot Micky van de Ven, Senesi and Danso as his key crop of centre-backs.