Tottenham have announced the signing of England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £34 million.
Aston Villa also approached Atletico for Gallagher, wanting an initial loan deal with an option to buy, but the La Liga club were reluctant unless they were obliged to buy him.
Sky Sports News reports that Spurs are in the market for a midfielder after Rodrigo Bentancur missed most of the season with a hamstring injury. Gallagher signed a five-and-a-half year contract.
Gallagher said: “I’m very happy and excited to be here and take the next step in my career at a great club.”
“I wanted to be a Spurs player and thankfully the club felt the same way. It was very easy, it happened quickly and I’m ready to step on the pitch.”
“We know how amazing our fans are. We’re really excited to be a part of them here and look forward to creating special moments and memories together.”
Spurs have signed Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid. Credit: Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs head coach Thomas Frank said: “Conor is a top midfielder and we have worked hard to bring him into the squad.
“He is still young so there is a lot of room for improvement, but he also has vast experience in the Premier League, La Liga and with the England national team.
“Conor will bring leadership, maturity, character and personality to our dressing room as he captains the team and his running ability, pressing ability and eye for goal will strengthen us in key areas of the pitch.
“I’m excited to work with him every day and I know our fans will love what he brings to the team.”
Gallagher, 25, signed for Atletico in the summer of 2024 for around £38m.
He has extensive experience in the Premier League, making 136 appearances for the likes of West Brom, Crystal Palace and Chelsea before joining Atletico Madrid.
Gallagher provides a significant workload and plenty of offensive output
Spurs confirmed the extent of Bentancur’s injury on Tuesday after the South American midfielder underwent surgery on his right hamstring.
“The Uruguay international midfielder sustained an injury in last week’s Premier League match against Bournemouth and will begin his rehabilitation alongside the medical staff,” the club said in a statement.
Elsewhere, members of Thomas Frank’s first team are currently not allowed to leave the club.
Matthijs Tell has interest from Paris FC and Roma’s Radu Dragusin, but they remain part of Frank’s plans.
Spurs have also signed left-back Souza from Santos in a £13m deal. The 19-year-old was brought in to provide cover and competition for Destiny Udogie.
Analysis: Gallagher signing shows Spurs back Frank
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The Athletic’s Dan Kilpatrick explained on the Transfer Talk Podcast why Conor Gallagher is a good option for Tottenham Hotspur but raises questions about the team Thomas Frank is building.
James Savandra on Sky Sports News:
“He’ll bring a lot of energy into the midfield that Tottenham need right now. There’s obviously a problem with creativity and I’m not sure Conor Gallagher can solve that.
“When players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski get fit, they’ll help us with that. But he has the ability to win the ball high up the pitch. He’s a pressing machine. His really enthusiastic personality will be a big plus at a time when we need more positive voices in the dressing room.”
“He provides leadership and drive in the center of the pitch. Rodrygo Bentacur, perhaps one of Tottenham’s most impressive central midfielders, will be sidelined for the next three months with a hamstring injury, leaving Joao Parinha and Archie Gray as the only senior central midfield options.”
“With the addition of Gallagher, you would expect him to start. It’s a real statement of intent from Tottenham in terms of supporting Thomas Frank, removing a player in Brennan Johnson who clearly wasn’t part of Thomas Frank’s plans, and bringing in a player that Thomas Frank thinks can make a difference in a season that has so far had few highlights for Tottenham.”
