Tottenham Hotspur has completed the signing of midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for around £34.6 million on a long-term deal until 2031. The 25-year-old England international joins after a frustrating stint in Spain, aiming to boost his chances for the upcoming World Cup. Manager Thomas Frank praised Gallagher's leadership and pressing ability.
Conor Gallagher has joined Tottenham Hotspur from Atletico Madrid in a £34.6 million transfer, signing a contract that runs until 2031. The move comes after Gallagher struggled for playing time under Diego Simeone this season, starting only four La Liga matches. At 25, the midfielder seeks to reclaim a spot in the England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where he has 22 caps, including appearances at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. His last international outing was a friendly loss to Senegal in June under Thomas Tuchel.
Tottenham acted swiftly following Rodrigo Bentancur's hamstring injury during a match against Bournemouth last Wednesday, which required surgery. The club had admired Gallagher since the end of the 2023-24 season, though he then moved from Chelsea to Atletico for £34 million. Chelsea fans had shown strong support with a banner at Stamford Bridge in May 2024 proclaiming 'Chelsea since birth.' Aston Villa also pursued the former Chelsea captain but could not match Tottenham's offer.
Gallagher will wear the No. 22 shirt, previously held by Brennan Johnson before his transfer to Crystal Palace. He expressed enthusiasm in his first comments as a Spurs player: “I’m so happy and excited to be here, taking the next step in my career at an amazing club. I wanted to be a Spurs player and thankfully the club felt the same. It was very easy. It happened very quickly and I’m ready to get on the pitch. I know how great the fans are, I’m really happy to be a part of it here and want to create special moments and memories together.”
Manager Thomas Frank highlighted Gallagher's qualities: “Conor is a top midfielder, who we have worked tirelessly to add to our squad. He is still young so has plenty of room for improvement but also has huge experience across the Premier League, La Liga and with the England national team. Conor has captained teams so will bring leadership, maturity, character and personality to our dressing room, while his running power, pressing ability and eye for goal will strengthen us in a key area of the pitch.” Gallagher could debut against West Ham on Saturday.
