By Martin Graham
Tottenham Hotspur have officially announced the arrival of the English international Conor Gallagher from Atlético de Madrid in a deal worth £35m. The 25-year-old has committed his future to the north London club until 2031 after Spurs won the race ahead of Aston Villa.
Gallagher returns to the Premier League less than a year after leaving Chelsea, where he began his professional career. His move comes as Tottenham look to bolster a squad that has struggled for consistency during the current campaign.
The midfielder has expressed his satisfaction at joining the club, highlighting his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead and his desire to connect with the fans.
Professional path and international ambitions
Gallagher joined Atletico in August 2024 for around £33m, with Joao Felix moving in the opposite direction. During his time in Spain, he featured 77 times in all competitions and scored seven goals before returning to England.
On the international stage, Gallagher has won 22 caps for the Three Lions. However, his involvement under current coach Thomas Tuchel has been limited to a single outing, a friendly defeat to Senegal.
He will be hoping regular football for Thomas Frank improves his prospects of being selected for England’s World Cup squad this summer. Gallagher made the squad for the 2022 tournament without playing and then featured five times at Euro 2024, where England finished runners-up.
Frank explains the reasons for the signing
Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank praised the midfielder’s leadership qualities and all-round attributes following the announcement. He highlighted Gallagher’s experience as captain, as well as his energy, pressing intensity and offensive contribution.
The signing comes at a crucial time for Spurs, with Rodrigo Bentancur sidelined for at least three months after a hamstring injury. Bentancur needs surgery after last week’s defeat against Bournemouth.
Tottenham are currently 14th in the Premier League with 27 points from 21 games and have won just once in their last six league games. Despite their domestic struggles, they remain in the hunt for automatic progression into the Champions League and face West Ham at home on Saturday.
