Fakayejo Paul
LONDON — In a stunning Monday night “hijack,” Tottenham Hotspur have reached a full agreement to sign England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid for a fee of €40m (£34.7m).
The transfer marks a dramatic turn of events, as Aston Villa had agreed on a deal with Atlético earlier that same day.
However, Gallagher chose to turn down Unai Emery’s side in favor of a move to North London, informing the Spanish club of his final decision this evening.
The “Gazump” Details
Spurs moved with lightning speed to secure the 25-year-old following a devastating injury update regarding Rodrigo Bentancur, who is set to undergo hamstring surgery and miss at least three months.
- The Fee: Tottenham will pay an initial £25m up front, with add-ons potentially taking the total package to €40m—roughly matching the amount Atlético paid Chelsea in 2024.
- The Hijack: Aston Villa had reportedly proposed a loan-to-buy formula, but Spurs’ offer of a permanent transfer was significantly more appealing to Atlético.
- The Wages: Reports suggest Tottenham are prepared to make Gallagher one of their top earners—potentially exceeding the salary of captain Cristian Romero—to ensure he leads Thomas Frank’s midfield rebuild.
Why Gallagher?
With James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski facing long-term layoffs and Pape Matar Sarr currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Spurs’ midfield had reached a breaking point.
Gallagher, who struggled for consistent starts under Diego Simeone this season (starting only four La Liga matches), viewed the move as the perfect opportunity to secure his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup.