Cristian Romero has completed a transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Atlético Madrid, the two clubs have confirmed.
Sources told ESPN that Spurs will receive €35 million plus plus €5m in variables from Atlético for the centre-back. He has signed a five-year contract with his new club.
He joins an Atlético team coached by fellow Argentinian Diego Simeone and that features three of his teammates from Argentina's run to the 2026 World Cup final -- Julián Álvarez, Giuliano Simeone and Juan Musso.
"I'm really pleased, really happy to be here at this huge club," he told his new club. "I know that I'm coming here with the mentality I've always had -- trying to write my name into the history books of this amazing club. I know that the only way to do this is by winning something.
"It's a club that, in terms of my playing style, let's say we're a perfect match. I have a lot of teammates from the national team playing here and I know it's an amazing club."
Romero announced his departure from Spurs with an Instagram post on Friday where he admitted to not always being "perfect" in north London but insisted the club will always hold a place in his heart.
The 28-year-old spent five years in north London after initially joining on loan from Atalanta in 2021. In all, he made 156 appearances at the club and scored 13 goals. He was also collected six red cards.
Romero helped Spurs qualify for the Champions League before he starred as Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar.
Cristian Romero was a mainstay for Argentina in their run to the World Cup final. Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images After relations soured with Antonio Conte, he built up a strong rapport with Ange Postecoglou and, during an injury-hit 2024-25 campaign for Spurs where pressure mounted on his head coach, Romero fired frequent thinly veiled digs at the board over a perceived lack of ambition.
However, in Tottenham's time of need, Romero showed his ability with a string of outstanding displays to inspire the north London club to European success in Bilbao.
Wild celebrations followed, with an estimated 200,000 fans on the streets of Tottenham for an open-top bid parade but Postecoglou was sacked weeks later and Romero waited for successor Thomas Frank to be announced before he paid tribute to his old boss for his achievements "despite the obstacles that will always exist."
It set the tone for a chaotic 2025-26 season where despite Romero being named permanent captain, the Argentine struggled.