Football London

The Tottenham youngster is the subject of plenty of transfer interest this summer and has made his intentions clear about what he wants

There are three sides to the Luka Vuskovic situation at Tottenham Hotspur and ultimately it all revolves a youngster who turned 19 just three months ago.

Never before at the north London club has so much noise and potential money been involved with a player who has yet to even turn out in a single competitive game for Spurs. Tottenham have lost youngsters from their academy in the past, most notably Noni Madueke, before they reached first team level, but this is a bizarre situation where one of Europe's most wanted young defenders is seemingly not particularly wanted right now at his own club.

So with Brighton said to have made a bid worth £45million in total for Vuskovic, with the teenager 'liking' a post about that offer on Instagram, what comes next for the Croatian centre-back and how did we get to this ridiculous point?

Let's start with Tottenham's side of things because it explains the process. Spurs signed Vuskovic in 2023 from Hajduk Split for around £12million, with the north London outfit seeing off big clubs like Manchester City to grab his signature. However, due to FIFA rules the Croatian was not able to officially join until he was 18-years-old in 2025.

When the defender did arrive last summer, he caught the eye with a goal and assist in a 2-0 summer friendly win against Reading but Spurs' then head coach Thomas Frank did not believe the teenager was ready and would not get the game time he needed to develop. While his natural talent was clear, as well as his physical presence, there were some concerns about his pace and acceleration as well as his decision-making but ones that could be worked on.

Just 12 months ago and Vuskovic agreed fully with Tottenham's assessment of him because he felt the same about not being at the required level yet. He was loaned to Hamburg where his brother Mario was being supported during a lengthy suspension.

"[Spurs] offered me an option to stay, to play in case of injury or cup matches, but I wanted continuous minutes," the defender admitted soon after his loan to HSV. "They have Romero and Van de Ven playing there, two of the best centre-backs in the world at the moment.

"I believe in myself, but it's really difficult to play next to them. I've faced them and I realised that I still have to work harder. A lot of work and a little luck, so I'll be back."

The teenager worked on his acceleration issues with former Croatian decathlete Josko Vlasic and became a star in Germany. He was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season despite playing for an HSV side that was battling in the lower reaches of the table against relegation.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said of Vuskovic: "He's a great talent. The Bundesliga is a very difficult league to develop as a young central defender. You have to be physically strong. Having a key role at HSV is ideal."

"Fantastic! That’s quality. At 18, he plays as if he’s already played in three World Cups," said German legend and former Bayern midfielder Lothar Matthaus. "When I was 30, I didn’t see what he saw at 18. This player is so intelligent. You rarely find that. How cleverly he played. He’s doing everything right. Something really, really great could come of this."

Former Spurs and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, one of the most decorated players in the game, said of his namesake: "He has a great future ahead of him, he just has to keep going like this."

So Vuskovic's profile rose and rose and Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic not only named him in his World Cup squad but placed him right in the centre of his back three against England for the opener in Dallas. The teenager showed glimpses of what he can do, winning the ball back to set up his country's first goal and his defensive numbers were better than most of his older team-mates, but he also showed signs of his youth and lack of pace for a couple of England's goals.

There is no doubt though that he is a major talent and Brighton would not look to spend such money if their top level player acquisition set-up told them otherwise.

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So when everybody is informing you how good you are, yet you see your club sign two new centre-backs after telling you how big a future you have, you're going to feel unwanted. For Tottenham, they will point to William Saliba's situation at Arsenal with the Frenchman having three loans after they beat their north London rivals to sign the Frenchman in 2019 before becoming the Premier League star he is now.

That's a difficult pill for a teenager to swallow though and that brings us to the player's side of things.

For while Vuskovic has only had one loan since arriving at Tottenham, the north London club and Hajduk worked together to ensure he got plenty of game time before his move by getting him two other loans, first to Radomiak in Poland and then Westerlo in Belgium.

So looking at it from the teenager's side, he's lived a nomadic presence over recent years and he's already had those three loans like Saliba without a club to actually settle in. Hamburg felt like home because of his family connections but by his own admission it was always likely to be a one-season deal.

To then see Tottenham sign the right-sided centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke especially would have felt like a kick in the teeth for Vuskovic because it was proof that his new head coach Roberto De Zerbi would prefer to spend £52million on a former player than take a look at the defender he already had.

Spurs have handed De Zerbi the keys to the kingdom and there is going to be some collateral damage like Vuskovic in doing so along with the positives. Whether the damage is greater than the rebuild will be seen in what's to come.

So for Vuskovic, when a club like Brighton show real determination - with a bid nearing the same amount as Spurs paid for their newest Dutchman - to want to bring you and say that you will play in the Premier League in Van Hecke's place, it's going to turn a teenager's head and those around him.

'Liking' that post about the Seagulls' bid showed Vuskovic's hand and his comments to Croatian media outlet HRT after the defeat to England further impressed that need to be wanted.

"For now, I'm only focused on the World Cup. However, my goal next season is to play for a club that wants me, for a club where I'll play, and we'll see what happens in the coming days and weeks," he said.

The third side of course is those around Vuskovic. Despite his tenders years, his talent and reputation from a child means he has a group around him of local and global representatives, all under the umbrella of Gol International, owned by super agent Pini Zahavi.

The main aim will be for the teenager to play regular football to continue to develop but also a firm eye on his path ahead. Brighton will be an attractive option, not only for their ability to develop players, but also to sell them on for mega money to the Premier League's biggest clubs a year or two later such as Chelsea and Liverpool.

They will look at Brighton as being similar to Bournemouth and what happened with Dean Huijsen moving to Real Madrid after just one season. There has been interest from Barcelona and Bayern Munich among others in Vuskovic, but as of yet neither have made a firm approach and both European giants would likely treat him in the same way as Tottenham have with a loan or at the best a sprinkling of game time.

Ultimately though, everybody seems to be forgetting that Vuskovic is just 19-years-old and admitted himself only 12 months ago that he was not at the level required. Patience is a thing of the past in football. He has a long contract at Tottenham until 2030 and the club hold the power to decide what comes next, regardless of what the youngster or those around him do.

An ideal scenario would be to loan him to a Premier League club for the coming season to allow him to prove to everyone that he's ready without Spurs losing him in the process. There are just not enough fixtures for Tottenham this season to get him the game time he needs.

Tottenham value Vuskovic at higher than what Brighton are proposing but at some point the figure offered could reach one that is so far removed from the £12million they originally spent, with Spurs likely wanting a sell-on clause as well, that it becomes difficult to not simply see it as big money to spend on building a team for now rather than always for the future.

That could end up being the right decision if Vuskovic does not kick on and cannot adapt to the Premier League while Tottenham flourish under De Zerbi. Equally it could be a disastrous call and Vuskovic could end up being the superstar Spurs let slip through their fingers. The coming weeks and then years will provide the answer.

A look at the ins and outs confirmed by Tottenham Hotspur as the summer transfer window opens

The transfer window only opened on Monday but Tottenham have not hung around with plenty of business in and out of the club.

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi has been leading major changes at the north London club after two successive 17th-place finishes and last season's huge relegation scare. The Italian is in a strong position after rescuing Spurs from the drop and would have already been promised plenty of transfer investment to get him to sign at such a precarious time anyway.

So that has meant Tottenham, backed by funds from the Lewis family which will be invested in the weeks ahead, have already started to get the transfer rebuild underway with big moves also plotted for Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and West Ham Mateus Fernandes, amid plenty of competition for both midfielders, and Manchester City winger Savinho also being looked at among other targets

"We are investing in it. You will see more of this in the coming months...We know that actions will speak louder than words," said a statement from the Lewis family as the club's dreadful season came to a close last month.

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While Tottenham are still looking for a new sporting director to fill the gap left by Fabio Paratici, Johan Lange and CEO Vinai Venkatesham have been trying to secure De Zerbi's transfer targets. Plenty has happened already with a lot more to do by the time the transfer window closes on Monday, August 31.

football.london has taken a closer look at all the transfers completed by Tottenham so far this summer with all the ins and outs and one young player announced this week as signing for another club.

Tottenham transfers (In)

Andy Robertson (Liverpool) - Free

Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) - Free

Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton) - £52million

Tottenham transfers (Out)

Alejo Veliz (Bahia) - £7.8million at end of loan contract at Rosario

Yves Bissouma - End of contract

Pele Arganese-McDermott (Crawley Town) - Free move just before end of contract

Tyrell Ashcroft - End of contract

Leo Black - End of contract

Dante Cassanova - End of contract

Matthew Craig - End of contract

Calum Logan - End of contract

Leon Myrtaj (Debreceni VSC) - Free move just before end of contract

Elijah Upson - End of contract

Jamel Beggs - End of contract

Samal Bangura - End of contract

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed an excellent start to the summer transfer window as Roberto De Zerbi lays the foundations to an exciting new era.

Tottenham Hotspur are not interested in signing Mason Greenwood from Olympique de Marseille, football.london understands. The 24-year-old forward has recently been linked with a move to the Premier League, but the Lilywhites have no intention of securing his signature.

Greenwood, whose contract at the Orange Velodrome expires in June 2029, featured 45 times across all competitions for the French giants last season, with 32 of which coming when Roberto De Zerbi was still in charge. Under the Italian, he scored 22 goals and provided eight assists.

In the remaining 13 games, the Manchester United academy graduate notched a further four goals and three assists. When De Zerbi was appointed as the permanent successor to Igor Tudor, just two months after leaving Marseille, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust stated his arrival 'raises serious and far-reaching concerns'.

The 47-year-old had previously described Greenwood, who had charges against him – which included attempted rape and assault – dropped in February 2023, as a 'good guy' who paid a 'heavy price'. At the time, De Zerbi said: "I don't want to get involved in anyone's private life.

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"All I can see is that Mason seems a good lad; he paid in a strong way for what happened. He has probably here found the right environment for him, which gave him affection, and held out its hand to him.

"When I look at him as a person, I feel sad for what happened in his life, without getting into the details. Because the person I know here is very different to the one that has been described, especially in England."

The fan group issued a strongly worded statement, outlining the 'strength of feeling' among supporters. The Italian was still appointed as Tottenham's new head coach, signing a five-year contract.

In his first interview with club media, De Zerbi apologised for his comments. He said: "I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone more broadly.

"In my life, I have always stood up for who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I have consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are more at risk.

"Those of you who know me well will know I'm not the type of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title. I apologise to those who I offended with this subject matter.

"I have a daughter, and I'm very sensitive to these things and always have been. I hope that over time, people will get to know me better and will understand that in that moment, I didn't mean to take a stance."

Then, speaking to reporters ahead of his first game in charge of Tottenham, De Zerbi said: "I was a bit sad and sorry it happened because I'm sorry if somebody took offence.

"I must repeat what I said. This topic is very close to me. I'm very sensitive about this topic because of the person I am and because I have a daughter.

"And so I must repeat what I said the other time. I have always been against - always - any type of violence, especially against women. But not only violence, even just sexist jokes or other sexist behaviours.

"I have a daughter, and I'm directly affected by it. I know who I am. I know the type of person I am, so I wasn't annoyed by the questions - I'm just sad about them."

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a brilliant start to the transfer window, but there's still a lot of work to be done.

Roberto De Zerbi will be determined to lay down a marker when Tottenham Hotspur face Brentford on the opening day of the new Premier League season. The Bees are not set to host the Lilywhites at the Gtech Community Stadium until Saturday, August 22, giving Johan Lange plenty of time to wrap up any remaining business.

The transfer window doesn't shut until Tuesday, September 1, but the sporting director will be expected to have signed key targets and sold surplus-to-requirement players well in advance. Spurs have been dealt back-to-back relegation scares, so Lange can't afford to take his foot off the pedal this summer.

Although Tottenham haven't finished in the top half of the Premier League for a couple of years now, De Zerbi will hope to lock horns with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool. In order to compete with the very best, the Italian wants to essentially build a new team from scratch.

Last month, following the win over Everton on the final day of the campaign, he told reporters: "From tonight, we have to start to organise and to build a new team. I think we have now to change too many players.

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"We have 10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay. Good enough. Like players. Especially like people. And then we have to complete the squad with the first level of players."

De Zerbi later doubled down in an interview with club media. The 47-year-old said: "I'm looking forward to building a new team. I'm looking forward to calling these players, to speak with them and to introduce the new season and to speak with the new players we have to bring.

"We are lucky to stay here, and we have to compete in the best way we can," he added. "We have to organise the next season, we have to build a stronger team. Now we have to move on and to prepare the future of our club."

Brentford will also have a point to prove, as they look to qualify for either of UEFA's three club competitions, too, having fallen short on goal difference last term. So, with that being said, football.london has looked at how Tottenham could set up on the opening day of the new Premier League season.

Two Tottenham stars survive exodus

Only two of the backline on the final day of the season could remain in the starting lineup when Spurs face the Bees: Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven. Following the arrivals of Andrew Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke, Kevin Danso and Destiny Udogie look set to be dropped to the bench.

Meanwhile, Djed Spence will have to earn his keep. Although the 25-year-old defender has shown promise while away with England at the World Cup, he didn't feature much under De Zerbi last term, starting just two out of a possible seven games.

Despite a brilliant turnaround and some great performances during the run-in last term, Antonin Kinsky should also lose his place between the sticks. James Trafford would be an excellent addition, providing De Zerbi a strong platform to build from.

Among the many departures at Hotspur Way this summer could be Luka Vuskovic and Cristian Romero, who both continue to be heavily linked with moves away. Tottenham would be a much stronger outfit with them in the squad, but, unless they suddenly get assurances over game time or agree to sign new contracts, it seems unlikely they will stay, for now anyway.

Tonali leads Tottenham midfield makeover

Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes would be a pair of great signings for Tottenham this summer. When De Zerbi qualified Brighton for the Europa League in 2023, the midfield was arguably the most important component of his side.

The likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, and Billy Gilmour were expected to evade the press with clever first-time passes, play through the lines and break up possession. Tonali and Fernandes are well-rounded players who will enable the Spurs boss to play exactly how he wants.

Tottenham sign Everton star

Tottenham will need to tread carefully in the market for a new forward. Savinho and Crysencio Summerville are just two of many wingers to be linked with a move to Spurs this summer, but De Zerbi should sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton.

With the license to take on defenders at will in the final third, the 26-year-old winger would put up serious numbers for Spurs next season. He's a maverick who could shoulder the creative workload of Xavi Simons, who's not expected to be back in action until next year.

De Zerbi begins Champions League charge

If Lange plays his cards right, De Zerbi could have the tools to lead Tottenham back into the top four of the Premier League this season. The Lilywhites have enjoyed a brilliant start to the summer, signing players with great quality and experience in the English top flight.

If the likes of Robertson, Ben Davies, and James Maddison can then help the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert, and Archie Gray find their feet in a team that strives to compete on all fronts, Spurs could lay the foundations to a dynasty. The start of an exciting new era in north London.

There is a new face behind the scenes at Tottenham Hotspur working on the transfer market and plenty more within the club

Tottenham have a new man working behind the scenes at the Premier League club in the shape of director of football operations Carlos Raphael Moersen.

Moersen, known as 'Rafi', began work in time for this summer's transfer window after serving his gardening leave with the City Football Group, where he spent more than a decade within their sprawling organisation across the world. His arrival coincides with fast work in the market from Tottenham as they tied up free transfers for Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi and then a £52million deal for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke as well as new contracts for Pedro Porro and Ben Davies.

His appointment was initially announced all the way back in January as the second person hired from the City Group with Dan Lewindon arriving mid-season to replace the previously departed Adam Brett as the north London club's new performance director.

Moersen worked for four years at Manchester City, becoming their senior sales strategy and development manager before stepping up to the wider group in 2020 to take charge of more focused football affairs, being handed the title in 2024 of director of football transactions.

His role included negotiating contracts with current and prospective City players and he will be using that experience now at Tottenham in a position that also includes him leading the north London club's football administration, player care and liaison, as well as training ground operations as part of Spurs' executive leadership team.

Moersen's arrival comes at a key time with Tottenham operating in a summer transfer window without the services of the experienced Fabio Paratici, who left for Fiorentina in February after a brief stint as sporting director. That left Johan Lange to take on the club's recruitment plans alone with Roberto De Zerbi, CEO Vinai Venkatesham and Moersen, while the club looks for a new sporting director to replace Paratici.

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Moersen joins as a highly-regarded talent in the industry, having been key in City's core team planning and executing as well as player trading within City Football Group.

He is not a direct replacement for Paratici - he reports to Lange - but will be a core part of that team, working closely with those in the sporting director role. Moersen has taken on some elements of Rebecca Caplehorn's position as head of administration and football governance after she left the club following the January transfer window and more than a decade of service, with part of her remit being contracts.

Moersen's background is in the numbers of football. He studied at the George Washington University School of Business for four years before completing a master's degree at the University of Valencia, where his thesis was focused on the expansion of Major League Soccer.

At the same time as completing his initial degree he was employed at MLS outfit DC United, where he worked his way up from sales intern to an account executive with a focus on international sales. After founding a consultancy firm that specialised in connecting professional and youth clubs in the USA, he was snapped by the City Group and initially worked within New York City Football Club before the move to Manchester.

Lange said of Moersen in January: "We are delighted to welcome Rafi to the club in the newly-created role of director of football operations. He was the outstanding candidate from a highly competitive process and brings a wealth of experience in this critical area of our football operation.

"His appointment is an important step as we continue to strengthen our football structure and support long-term success."

Roberto De Zerbi is plotting a big season at Tottenham Hotspur and now he knows how the fixtures will affect his best-laid plans

Roberto De Zerbi wants a Tottenham Hotspur season far removed from the mess of the previous campaign and that process has already begun in the transfer window.

Spurs have moved more quickly than ever before to tie up free transfers for Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi and then a £52million deal for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke. De Zerbi's plans are far from complete though with the north London club eyeing up huge moves for Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and West Ham Mateus Fernandes, amid plenty of competition for both midfielders, and also Manchester City winger Savinho among other targets.

Regardless of World Cup involvements but barring injury, De Zerbi should have all of his new signings - those who have arrived by that point - involved in some capacity in Tottenham's opening match of the Premier League season at Brentford on August 22.

The season begins 33 days after the World Cup Final on July 19, so even if some of his players reach that stage, with three weeks of holiday afterwards they should still be back in training in the 12 days leading up to the opener and involved in later pre-season fixtures.

So what games will help shape De Zerbi's first season at the club? Without European football and fresher players as a result, Spurs have a big chance to climb up the table after recent 17th-place finishes. They and other clubs have shown in recent campaigns the difference a clearer schedule can make to Premier League form. The north London outfit are also expected to get more Monday night fixtures this season.

The Tottenham head coach will want to get off to a good start at the Gtech Community Stadium, a place where Spurs often get positive results.

Having three out of the next four matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa hands the head coach the opportunity to set his stall out for home games for the coming season. We all know about the club's home horror shows last season and after finally winning there in the Premier League for the first time in 2026 on the final day of the season, De Zerbi will want to keep that trend going and finally turn the stadium into a fortress.

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That period around the first international break brings some tough fixtures with the home game against Villa followed up by a trip to Old Trafford after the break and then a home clash with promoted Coventry before a trip across the capital to Chelsea.

De Zerbi's tricky away games early in the campaign will be a test for his new-look side and he will need a strong pre-season to ensure they are the unit he wants them to be.

December brings the chance for the Italian to do what his predecessors have failed miserably in recent seasons to do and that's to give the fans a north London derby victory. Mikel Arteta's side make the short trip on December 5, although that could well change days with the TV picks and various fixture movements.

That game represents the second of back-to-back home derbies as Fulham arrive in midweek for a night clash before Spurs embark on the journey up to Hull on December 12.

February brings a tough little quartet of games as Spurs host Manchester City for a midweek night encounter, currently on the 10th, before travelling to De Zerbi and Van Hecke's old haunt, the Amex Stadium, to face Brighton 10 days later. The reunions continue as Roberton's former employers Liverpool arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 27 before the Lilywhites begin March with a trip to the south coast and Senesi's old club Bournemouth.

De Zerbi needs to have his team in a position to fight for something by the time May comes around because that month brings a tough end to the campaign which will not be forgiving.

It starts with the away north London derby at the Emirates Stadium before Spurs host Chelsea the following weekend. A game at Coventry comes before a home clash against Manchester United and then a final day battle at Villa Park against Aston Villa.

All eyes will be on what Tottenham are competing for at that moment under De Zebi and hopefully nothing like a repeat of last season.

Here are Tottenham's Premier League fixtures and FA cup round dates in full for the 2026/27 season with times and dates subject to change with TV picks:

The Premier League fixtures for the 2026/27 season were released on Friday, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham discovering who they will face and when throughout the campaign

The Premier League fixtures for the 2026/27 season were released at 10am on Friday with football.london providing updates and analysis throughout the day!

Arsenal were crowned champions only last month but, not even four weeks later, Gunners supporters discovered who they will face next season. The new campaign is due to start on Friday, August 21 which is a week later than normal due to the ongoing World Cup.

Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull are the new teams entering the league from the Championship, while West Ham, Burnley and Wolves were relegated and will play in England's second division for at least a year.

Mikel Arteta will want to retain Arsenal's crown and a kind opening fixture schedule will be welcome after a gruelling summer. Chelsea, meanwhile, now have Xabi Alonso in the dugout while Tottenham will enter the new season after a full pre-season under Roberto De Zerbi.

The fixtures for the 2026/27 season were published at 10am on Friday. Scroll down for more...

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Key Events

Tottenham fixtures in full

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Arsenal fixtures confirmed

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Premier League title odds 2026/27

With the 2026/27 Premier League fixtures officially out, the bookies have wasted no time in setting the stage for what promises to be a massive season. According to the latest outright markets at bet365, London's traditional powerhouse clubs are facing wildly different expectations for the year ahead.

Fresh off their incredible title-winning campaign, Arsenal open as the clear 6/4 favourites to go back-to-back under Mikel Arteta. Across the capital, Chelsea are priced at 6/1 to win the league, making them the bookies' fifth-favourite option overall. They are also sitting at a very tight 11/10 to secure a crucial top-four finish.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have some serious ground to make up and are at 50/1 to lift the trophy, though they remain a prominent 8/1 dark horse to break back into the Champions League places.

Premier League 2026/27 Title Odds

Arsenal 6/4

Man City 11/4

Liverpool 5/1

Man United 6/1

Chelsea 6/1

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Thank you for following our coverage this morning. Be sure to check the football.london website for the latest news and analysis throughout the day.

Alonso handed immediate Chelsea nightmare

Xabi Alonso has been given a tough start to his first season as Chelsea’s new manager, with the Premier League fixtures now confirmed. The Blues confirmed the appointment of Alonso as their new boss last month, who will officially take charge on July 1.

Friday morning saw the Premier League confirm the fixture list for the 2026/27 season, with Chelsea given some tricky matches to start the campaign. Chelsea will begin the campaign with an away trip to west London rivals Fulham on Monday, August 24, which will also be the first Monday Night Football of the campaign. Fulham finished level with Alonso's side on 52 points last season.

The Blues will then host Brighton at Stamford Bridge in their first home fixture of the new season, pencilled in for Saturday, August 29. The Seagulls finished one point ahead of Chelsea to secure a spot in the Europa Conference League for the forthcoming season.

Chelsea will then take on reigning Premier League champions Arsenal as they travel to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, September 5. This fixture is likely to be moved for live television coverage when the Premier League confirm the next round of the broadcast schedule.

The Blues will then face newly-promoted Hull City at Stamford Bridge and make an away trip to Brentford , who also finished above Alonso's side last season for another derby match, before the September international break gets underway. After that, Alonso and Chelsea will take on Bournemouth, who have Marco Rose as their new manager following Andoni Iraola’s departure, on Saturday, May 10. The Cherries ended last season in sixth place and qualified for the Europa League.

In the Blues' first ten matches of the new season, six of the teams they play finished above them in 2025/26.

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Key Arsenal fixtures

The first London derby of the campaign takes place on matchday three, with Chelsea visiting the home of the champions on the weekend of September 5.

Arsenal’s next ‘Big Six’ clash sees them travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on the final weekend of October; Mikel Arteta will be facing, assuming he’s still in the role by then, friend Andoni Iraola.

This game begins a four-game run, which is followed by a home tie against Hull City, but then comes a trip to St James’ Park and Newcastle before hosting a ‘Pep Guardiola-less’ Manchester City , who they will have played in Cardiff this August 16 for the Community Shield.

Two games later, on December 5, is the first North London Derby of the season as Tottenham Hotspur’s Roberto De Zerbi and Arteta go head to head, with the two sides looking to be two of the biggest summer spenders in the transfer window, but for very different reasons.

Michael Carrick’s Manchester United, who are getting the Amazon All or Nothing Documentary treatment this season, come to the Emirates Stadium on the weekend of December 19.

The Gunners would have got both matches with City out of the way, barring any unexpected rescheduling, by the weekend of January 30, when Arsenal go to the Etihad Stadium. But just a week later comes the visit of Liverpool in what will almost certainly be billed as a potential title-defining week for the three clubs if they’re all involved.

Arsenal will have completed Manchester by the end of February where they travel to Old Trafford.

With Arsenal’s last ten games a perfect alternating gauntlet of away and home matches, kicking off with the trip to Stamford Bridge on March 13, and including the home clash with Tottenham Hotspur on May 1. Three of Arsenal’s last five games are at home, where they will hope to be on the home stretch toward a successive Premier League title.

Winner odds

Premier League winner 2026/27:

Arsenal – 6/4

Manchester City – 11/4

Liverpool – 5/1

Manchester United – 6/1

Chelsea – 10/1

Aston Villa – 25/1

BAR – 40/1

*Odds provided by BOYLE Sports.

Spurs' fixtures assessed

Alasdair Gold

Roberto De Zerbi's opener away at Brentford will bring back memories of Ange Postecoglou's first game back in 2023 although there's no Thomas Frank in either dugout this time. In a season in which Spurs have no European football - as was the case back then - the fixtures are reasonably spread out in terms of classic top six opponents until you get to the final month of the campaign.

The Lilywhites kick off May with a trip to Arsenal, then welcome Chelsea the following weekend. A game at promoted Coventry is then followed up by a home clash against Manchester United before a final day tussle at Villa Park.

The Tottenham fans will be hoping that will be a month of fighting for something far more exciting than last season's near disaster.

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Tom Canton reaction to Arsenal fixtures

The initial reaction was happiness when you notice the home ties on the first and last day of the season. However dig deeper and there are some challenges that could determine the entire campaign, as they should.

UEFA Champions League fixtures fall at some tricky times with games against Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur close by. The run-in contains plenty of tricky trips which could cost any big team.

Tottenham's first five

Brentford away on the Saturday evening for Tottenham, followed by Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A tough first two games.

The Nottingham Forest away trip on matchday three will also not be easy, but at least the games against Everton and Aston Villa are at home. Surely Spurs get an early home win?!

Chelsea's fixtures assessed

Bobby Vincent:

All in all, that's a good start for Xabi Alonso. It's not easy but there was never going to be a world where it was. Only one of the 'top six' in the opening seven matches - that's a positive, for sure. That trip to Arsenal in early-September will be intriguing; to see how Alonso does against his close friend and newly-crowned Premier League winner Mikel Arteta. Elsewhere, there is a tough period in April/May where Chelsea take on Brighton (A), Man City (H), Liverpool (A) and Tottenham (A) which could prove pivotal at that point in the season. I'm not sure how much managers take notice when the fixtures are released but if Alonso is one to pay extra attention, then he will surely be pleased!

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Chelsea's first five

Xabi Alonso will start his Chelsea tenure away at Fulham on the Monday night before taking on Brighton at Stamford Bridge, which will be his first competitive outing as manager at home.

That Arsenal away game the week after will be tricky, too.

Arsenal's first five

Some nice games to start then. The defending champions will kick-off the season at home to Frank Lampard's Coventry!

A tricky away trip to Aston Villa follows before Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta go head to head, with the former Real Madrid boss now in charge at Chelsea!

Tottenham fixtures in full

Here are Tottenham's Premier League fixtures in full for the 2026/27 season with times and dates subject to change with TV picks:

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Chelsea fixtures in full

Fulham vs Chelsea - August 24, 8pm

Chelsea vs Brighton - August 29, 3pm

Arsenal vs Chelsea - September 5, 3pm

Chelsea vs Hull City - September 12, 3pm

Brentford vs Chelsea - September 19, 3pm

Chelsea vs Bournemouth - October 10, 3pm

Everton vs Chelsea - October 17, 3pm

Chelsea vs Tottenham - October 24, 3pm

Chelsea vs Manchester United - October 31, 3pm

Sunderland vs Chelsea - November 7, 3pm

Chelsea vs Leeds United - November 21, 3pm

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea - November 28, 3pm

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - December 2, 3pm

Chelsea vs Liverpool - December 5, 3pm

Manchester City vs Chelsea - December 12, 3pm

Chelsea vs Aston Villa - December 19, 3pm

Coventry City vs Chelsea - December 26, 3pm

Ipswich Town vs Chelsea - December 30, 8pm

Chelsea vs Newcastle United - January 2, 3pm

Crystal Palace vs Chelsea - January 6, 8pm

Chelsea vs Sunderland - January 16, 3pm

Leeds United vs Chelsea - January 23, 3pm

Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest - January 30, 3pm

Manchester United vs Chelsea - February 2, 3pm

Newcastle United vs Chelsea - February 10, 8pm

Chelsea vs Ipswich Town - February 20, 3pm

Aston Villa vs Chelsea - February 27, 3pm

Chelsea vs Coventry City - March 3, 8pm

Chelsea vs Arsenal - March 13, 3pm

Hull City vs Chelsea - March 20, 3pm

Chelsea vs Fulham - April 10, 3pm

Brighton vs Chelsea - April 17, 3pm

Chelsea vs Manchester City - April 24, 3pm

Liverpool vs Chelsea - May 1, 3pm

Tottenham vs Chelsea - May 8, 3pm

Chelsea vs Everton - May 15, 3pm

Bournemouth vs Chelsea - May 23, 3pm

Chelsea vs Brentford - May 30, 4pm

Arsenal fixtures confirmed

Arsenal v Coventry City - August 21, 8pm

Aston Villa v Arsenal - August 29, 3pm

Arsenal v Chelsea - September 5, 3pm

Sunderland v Arsenal - September 12, 3pm

Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal - September 19, 3pm

Arsenal v Leeds United - October 10, 3pm

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal - October 17, 3pm

Arsenal v Everton - October 24, 3pm

Liverpool v Arsenal - October 31, 3pm

Arsenal v Hull City - November 11, 3pm

Newcastle United v Arsenal - November 21, 3pm

Arsenal v Manchester City - November 28, 3pm

Brentford v Arsenal - December 2, 8pm

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - December 5, 3pm

Arsenal v Bournemouth - December 12, 3pm

Arsenal v Manchester United - December 19, 3pm

Crystal Palace v Arsenal - December 26, 3pm

Fulham v Arsenal - December 30, 8pm

Arsenal v Ipswich Town - January 2, 3pm

Arsenal v Brentford - January 6, 8pm

Hull City v Arsenal - January 16, 3pm

Arsenal v Newcastle United - January 23, 3pm

Manchester City v Arsenal - January 30 3pm

Arsenal v Liverpool - February 6, 3pm

Ipswich Town v Arsenal - February 10, 8pm

Arsenal v Fulham - February 20, 3pm

Manchester United v Arsenal - February 27, 3pm

Arsenal v Crystal Palace - March 3, 8pm

Chelsea v Arsenal - March 13, 3pm

Arsenal v Sunderland - March 20, 3pm

Coventry City v Arsenal - April 10, 3pm

Arsenal v Aston Villa - April 17, 3pm

Bournemouth v Arsenal - April 24, 3pm

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - May 1, 3pm

Leeds United v Arsenal - May 8, 3pm

Arsenal v Nottingham Forest - May 15, 3pm

Everton v Arsenal - May 23, 3pm

Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion - May 30, 4pm

Opening weekend fixtures

The opening weekend fixtures are as follows:

Arsenal vs Coventry - Friday, August 21 (8pm)

Hull City vs Manchester United - Saturday, August 22 (12:30pm)

Ipswich Town vs Sunderland - Saturday, August 22 (3pm)

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United - Saturday, August 22 (3pm)

Everton vs Crystal Palace - Saturday, August 22 (3pm)

Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur - Saturday, August 22 (5:30pm)

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa - Sunday, August 23 (2pm)

Manchester City vs Bournemouth - Sunday, August 23 (2pm)

Newcastle United vs Liverpool - Sunday, August 23 (2pm)

Fulham vs Chelsea - Monday, August 24 (8pm)

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Not long now

We have seen the fixtures ahead of them being released in 15 minutes or so. There are some belters in the opening weekend! And throughout the season for that matter.

Stay tuned!

Alonso to discover Chelsea fate

Our Chelsea writer Bobby Vincent:

As always with Chelsea, you are looking out for the Tottenham and Arsenal games. It wouldn't be a Premier League fixture release day if not. I'm also keen to discover when the Blues take on club legend Frank Lampard and his Coventry City team. There is also the Alonso and Liverpool factor to keep an eye on; I'm really intrigued to see the sort of reception the Spaniard will receive when he goes back to Anfield.

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What Alonso must do at Chelsea

Xabi Alonso will be hoping for a kind start when he gets his Chelsea career off and running . One of his priorities will be to get Cole Palmer back to his best ahead of the new season, according to Frank Leboeuf.

Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds, Leboeuf said: "Xabi Alonso has to know how to use Cole Palmer, but it's up to Cole Palmer to wake up and improve. Can you imagine that he isn't even in the national team? And rightfully so, because what he’s done over the past year and a half isn't the Cole Palmer we know.

"It’s sad for him because missing a World Cup is huge, but he is capable of regaining his form. Initially, we saw issues with his positioning, coaches at Chelsea kept moving him between the right side and the number ten role, but it didn't click with his team-mates, and he got injured on top of that. "Cole Palmer will be a priority for Xabi Alonso, provided his mindset is in the right place. We need Cole Palmer. He's a great player, and I don't want him to leave, I want him to stay and return to the Cole Palmer we all used to know."

Key dates

The 2026/27 Premier League season will start on Saturday, August 22. This is a week later than last season due to the ongoing World Cup.

The final weekend of Premier League action will be on Sunday, May 30, with all the matches kicking off at the same time.

The 2026/27 Season will consist of 33 weekends and five midweek match rounds. Over the Christmas and New Year period, no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours.

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When are the fixtures being announced?

All of the fixtures for the 2026/27 Premier League season will be announced at 10am UK time. Last year it was 9am but we will have to wait an hour longer this time round!

Good morning

Welcome to football.london's coverage of the Premier Leagu fixtures. We'll bring you all the build-up before the big release at 10am.

So stay tuned...

Follow Football London:

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Roberto De Zerbi now knows the Premier League fixtures as he kicks off the season for the first time at the Premier League club

Tottenham Hotspur and Roberto De Zerbi can now start planning their first start to a Premier League season together after the 2026/27 fixtures were released.

Spurs have plenty to thank De Zerbi for in that they are among the Premier League fixtures rather than the Championship ones as the Italian guided them to safety by two points on the final day of last season after lifting the gloom and despair around the north London club, with West Ham instead consigned to the drop.

De Zerbi will face exactly the same opening fixture to the Premier League season as Ange Postecoglou did in 2023 in a similarly European football-less campaign as Tottenham make their way across London to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on August 22 with a 5.30pm kick-off.

Spurs' first home game of the campaign will be against Newcastle United on August 29 with the fans hoping that Italian midfielder Sando Tonali will be lining up on their side for that game rather than for the Magpies or elsewhere.

Then comes a trip to Nottingham Forest before back-to-back home games against Everton and Aston Villa before Tottenham journey to Manchester United on October 10.

Spurs' first encounter against a promoted side comes on October 17 when they welcome Coventry City before heading to Stamford Bridge a week later to face Xabi Alonso's Chelsea.

The two north London derbies arrive this season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 5 and then much later at the Emirates on May 1.

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The Christmas fixtures bring the near annual pre-festive game against Liverpool, albeit at Anfield this time on December 19. Then, currently slated for Boxing Day but that could change, Spurs have a home clash with Bournemouth before welcoming De Zerbi's old team Brighton on December 30 with a current 8pm kick-off.

The Lilywhites' first Premier League game of 2027 will be a trip to a Pep Guardiola-less Manchester City on January 2.

The fixtures take their toughest turn in the final month of the campaign as Spurs make that trip to Arsenal, then welcome Chelsea the following weekend. A game at Coventry is then followed up by a home clash against Manchester United before a final day tussle at Villa Park against Aston Villa, with Tottenham hopefully playing for something exciting in the finale rather than last season's very different nerves.

Here are Tottenham's Premier League fixtures in full for the 2026/27 season with times and dates subject to change with TV picks:

Tottenham have launched their new home and away Nike kits on the same day that they will find out their Premier League fixtures

Tottenham have launched their new home and away kits for the 2026/27 season with a local setting and a nostalgic nod worked into their white shirt.

On the same day as Roberto De Zerbi's men will discover their Premier League fixtures for the campaign ahead, Spurs have officially launched the Nike home and away kits that they will be wearing in them. They have done so with a film shot entirely in the club's local neighbourhood and with a new track 'Homegrown' from Tottenham artist Nippa.

The club says that the new home kit draws on their Lilywhite heritage, while the away kit brings a "vibrant, contemporary look inspired by Tottenham’s cultural diversity and urban street style".

The home top is a plain white one with navy accents and has nostalgic subtle diagonal striping that is said to be inspired by Spurs' mid-1980s Hummels kits. The away shirt is a more colourful, eye-catching design with "a vibrant and chaotic pattern with diagonal, jagged lines in neon pink, purple, and orange over an Obsidian (navy blue) base", according to the Nike details. The kit has a rounded neck with no collar compared to the layered one on the home top.

Various Spurs players have already been shown in the new tops, including men's squad members Micky van de Ven, Archie Gray, Conor Gallagher, Destiny Udogie, Dominic Solanke, Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso and James Maddison as well as women's stars such as Cathinka Tandberg, Olivia Holdt, Signe Gaupset and Toko Koga.

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The video launching the new kits includes the players with inspirational local people in the Tottenham community, many of whom have benefited from the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, including a chocolate entrepreneur, a young woman supported on to an international sports scholarship and a local football coach.

Nathan Mubenga, who received a start-up grant through the foundation’s Start Something entrepreneurship bootcamp to support his chocolate-bar business, was delighted to be part of the launch.

"Tottenham is home for me, so being part of this film and seeing the new kit launched in the area means a lot. It is special to be involved in a campaign that shows the ambition and creativity that exist in this community," said the 25-year-old.

On having his new track as the theme for the kit video, lifelong Spurs fan Nippa added: "Tottenham has shaped who I am and the music I make. Homegrown is about family, resilience and believing you can build something from where you come from. I've lived here all my life and I wanted this track to bring everyone together.

"This is a song for the community, for every one of us who grew up in Tottenham or was born into the football club. To have the track used in a film that celebrates N17 and the people who make the area what it is - for my boyhood club - feels very personal. It was meant to be."

The local figures appear alongside Pan Nation Steel Orchestra, a Tottenham-based group that has been in existence for nearly 20 years, while former Spurs captain Ledley King and Tottenham-born British and European cruiserweight boxing champion Viddal Riley also make cameo appearances.

It will be the final year that the red AIA logo will be splashed across the centre of the white home shirt as that sponsorship deal comes to an end after this coming campaign. The insurance company will then switch to being Spurs' training wear sponsor from the 2027/28 season with another front of shirt sponsor coming on board for the match kits.

Nike though will be making Tottenham's kits for at least the next seven years as the north London club signed their deal with the US sportswear giants back in 2017 and extended it the following year to a 15-year contract which will last until at least 2033 and is reportedly worth around £30million a season.

The club's third shirt is expected to be launched later this summer.

Sandro Tonali is of transfer interest to Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City, but Newcastle look to have been handed a boost to their chances of keeping him

Newcastle United are set for a £60million cash injection from a sponsorship agreement which could impact Arsenal and Tottenham's transfer pursuit of Sandro Tonali. Both north London clubs have shown an interest in the midfielder with Manchester City also linked.

Having missed out on securing any form of European football, a marquee sale by Newcastle appeared necessary with Anthony Gordon seemingly the chosen player as he joined Barcelona for £69m earlier this month.

Despite that, Tonali could also depart but the Magpies have had their position boosted courtesy of a front of shirt sponsorship deal with KNOX Hydration that is believed to be worth £60m, according to football.london's sister-title the Chronicle.

The South African company already have an existing arrangement with the training ground in a £6m-per-year deal for the next three years. Their report adds that KNOX will pay around £10m for the upcoming 2026/27 season, and £25m-per year for the following two seasons.

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Such a strong financial lift could play a role in negotiations for Tonali with Newcastle not desperately requiring significant funds. His asking price has been mooted as £100m, with Spurs having already spoken to his representatives.

Roberto De Zerbi has already welcomed Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi to Spurs with a deal for Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke also confirmed on Wednesday evening.

The future of Luka Vuskovic was heavily linked to that £52million move with the Seagulls seeing bids rejected by Spurs for the Croatia defender.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are yet to welcome any new additions, but are now actively pursuing a move for Leicester City wonderkid Jeremy Monga.

Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth, Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola and Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers are attacking options to have been linked.

The latter's England team-mate Elliot Anderson is Man City's top midfield target with Nottingham Forest already rejecting bids from Etihad Stadium.

Tonali has been mooted as an alternative for City with Spurs also waiting on them to make a decision on Savinho, a player they have been chasing for the last 12 months.

The future of Rodri is also a hotly debated topic with a move Real Madrid mooted if they are unable to sign either Enzo Fernandez or Mateus Fernandes.