Squad List Shakeup
Written by Dustin Gentile https://x.com/White_Hart_Live
After a chaotic transfer deadline day, we finally have a final Premier League squad list for Tottenham Hotspur FC. Much ado was made about this list as the club had to make multiple decisions concerning long-term injuries, homegrown numbers, and a developing situation that has left a previously important first-team player out of the squad. Let’s dive into the list.
New Arrivals
After years of the same names appearing on the squad list under the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, etc., the 26-27 squad list contains quite a few new additions. The 28-man list contains ELEVEN new additions (twelve if you count January signing, Conor Gallagher). This represents the club’s dedication to a complete squad overhaul. This has been a long time coming, as former Spurs and current USMNT manager, Mauricio Pochettino, talked about the need for a “painful rebuild” all the way back in the summer of 2019. Fans will be delighted to see the additions of record signings Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, along with the arrivals of Savio and Omar Marmoush from Manchester City.
The new additions also include academy grad Jacob Knightbridge, who made the list through the homegrown route with the club. Also returning to this year’s list is Dejan Kulusevski. The Sweden international has been out with a major knee injury since May 2025, and will add major depth to the squad, as Roberto De Zerbi has mentioned that Deki will feature along the wing as well as in the midfield.
Lingering Injuries
While the likes of Kulusevski and James Maddison have returned to the squad after a long injury layoff, two names that were included are still in the rehab process. Wingers Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons were named to the Premier League squad in spite of the recent updates that they will not be ready until the March/April fixtures on the calendar. Many expected these two names to be left off until the Premier League allows changes to be made to these lists in January, but it appears to be full steam ahead for these two. Their arrivals will almost feel like new signings for the club when they inevitably return to the squad.
One name that Spurs supporters will be delighted to see on the list is right winger Mo Kudus, who appears to be fully fit after struggling with a quad injury in the second half of the season. Prior to his injury, Kudus seemed to be hitting his stride with the club as the quality of performance from the winger shone week after week. Much like Kulusevski, rumors are swirling around Kudus that he may feature in a central midfield role with the squad this year, as RDZ has commented on how the player’s athletic ability and creativity may make the club more dynamic in both the press and the attack.
Homegrown Woes
Under Premier League rules, the club can register twenty-five players above the ages of 21 with a maximum of seventeen non-homegrown players. As it stands, the first-team has eighteen non-homegrown players available for selection, meaning one player would be forced out of the squad. If you have been following the deadline day drama around the club, that choice seemed abundantly clear after the events of deadline.
After a failed attempt to move the player on deadline day back to Merseyside, Brazil international Richarlison became the odd man out of this year’s squad list. As reported by Alasdair Gold from Football.London today, the decision “was explained to Richarlison that he would not be part of De Zerbi's plans this season ahead of the Premier League transfer deadline, in order to provide him with the option to leave the north London club once they received a suitable offer.”
While Spurs thought they had provided him with a suitable move to Everton, the player ultimately rejected personal terms with the club after a disagreement on weekly wages for the upcoming season. This disagreement came in spite of the fact that Richarlison has been reported as saying that he wanted to leave the club this summer. Reports are now circulating that Turkish side Trabzonspor has been linked with a move for the striker. Fabrizio Romano has reported that Trabzonspor has seen two deals rejected for the player by Tottenham Hotspur as they seek to gain a transfer fee closer to the reported £35M fee agreed upon by Everton. Personal terms between Richarlison and the Turkish side have been agreed upon, as it is reported by multiple sources that the striker will earn up to THREE TIMES his current wages at Spurs should a deal be completed.
So what does all this mean for Tottenham Hotspur FC? It means that De Zerbi and his squad are now in need of some serious results moving forward. Consecutive defeats were not the desired start for any party this season, and a challenging trip to Nottingham Forest lies ahead for the North London side. The time for talk is over. It is now time to put it all together on the field.