Tottenham lose defensive duo
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MILAN (AP):
Tottenham defender Djed Spence, who featured in all eight of England’s matches during the 2026 World Cup, joined Italian champions Inter Milan yesterday.
“The English wingback joins the Nerazzurri from Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent transfer,” Inter said on their website. “Spence has signed a contract with the club until 30 June 2031.”
No fee was disclosed, but reports on Friday indicated that the clubs had agreed on a transfer worth £30 million (US$40.5 million), with Tottenham inserting a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
Spence was signed as a replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who joined Real Madrid earlier this off-season.
The 26-year-old, who began his career at Fulham, joined Tottenham from Middlesbrough in 2022.
TOTTENHAM ALSO LOSE ROMERO
Spence was not the only departure from Tottenham yesterday, as Atlético Madrid confirmed the signing of Argentina defender Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero for a reported fee of 40 million euros (US$46 million).
The 28-year-old centre-back signed a five-year deal through June 2031, the Spanish club said.
Romero played for the Argentina team that lost the World Cup final to Spain and was also a member of the side that won the tournament in 2022. He has made 58 appearances for Argentina.
Romero captained Spurs last season, making 32 appearances to take his tally to 156 since joining the club from Atalanta in 2021, Tottenham said. He initially arrived on loan before the move was made permanent a year later.
However, he was criticised for his disciplinary record, collecting four red cards in five Premier League seasons, while injuries also took their toll.
Atlético described Romero as “an experienced defender who is highly physical, quick to anticipate danger and decisive in the tackle, with considerable authority and leadership on the pitch”.
He previously had spells at Genoa and Juventus after leaving hometown club Belgrano in 2018.
CRYSTAL PALACE SIGNS KHALAILI
Crystal Palace also announced yesterday the signing of Anan Khalaili from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, weeks after the Israel winger’s proposed move to Inter Milan broke down.
The 21-year-old Khalaili, who primarily plays on the right, signed a five-year deal, “subject to international clearance”, the Premier League club said on its website. British media reported the transfer fee was 24.5 million euros (US$28 million).
The transfer comes a month after Inter president Giuseppe Marotta said at a press conference that Khalaili had not been given medical clearance to join the club after the sides agreed on a transfer.
Marotta said: “Italy has very strict legislation protecting players’ health, with decisions made by an independent body rather than the club’s medical staff. We have to abide by this decision.”
Inter’s loss is seemingly Palace’s gain.
Khalaili developed at hometown club Maccabi Haifa before moving to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium in 2024.
Khalaili has made 16 appearances for Israel. He is Palace’s fifth summer signing after Óscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand.