From Gunners to Spurs and Back: 12 Stars Who Crossed the North London Divide as Romero Transfer Rumours Ignite

Arsenal have been linked with a surprise pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero, though this transfer story may already be over before it begins, with Atlético Madrid reportedly in advanced discussions for the Argentine defender.

Romero has seemed destined to depart Spurs this summer, after his relationship with supporters and the club deteriorated—most notably when he publicly criticized senior management back in February.

The center back received two red cards last season, serving multiple suspensions, dealt with recurring injuries, and briefly considered skipping the final match of the campaign—a game he was ruled out of regardless, but one in which Spurs faced potential Premier League relegation—to attend a boyhood club Belgrano match against River Plate in Argentina.

The incident prompted club legend Glenn Hoddle to say: "I'd drive him to the airport and tell him not to bother coming back." The trip to Argentina for injury rehabilitation had been sanctioned by Spurs staff, but manager Roberto De Zerbi acknowledged he understood "100%" why supporters were frustrated. Ultimately, Romero did return to England for the match, which other sidelined players also attended.

While recent speculation has largely centered on Atlético Madrid, Inter and even Real Madrid before Los Blancos opted to sign Ibrahima Konaté instead, Arsenal's reported "admiration" for Romero has now emerged via a piece in The Athletic.

However, Spurs have not been informed of any such interest from the Gunners and would refuse to consider selling to their bitter north London rivals. The idea is a "non-starter."

The mere suggestion brings back memories of the deeply contentious Sol Campbell transfer in 2001. Though the circumstances were entirely different—Campbell was out of contract, having run down his Tottenham deal, and was free to choose his next destination without any say from Spurs. 

William Gallas similarly arrived at Tottenham as a free agent in 2010 following his release by Arsenal. That move stung far less because, unlike Campbell and Romero, Gallas had just turned 33 and was in the twilight of his career rather than at his best.

Players Who Moved Between Arsenal, Tottenham

Gallas was the most recent player to move directly between Arsenal and Tottenham.

Others, such as David Bentley and Emmanuel Adebayor, have represented both clubs without transferring straight from one to the other. Even Harry Kane had a brief stint with Arsenal's youth setup, before being picked up by Spurs two years after the Gunners let him go at age eight, reportedly for being "a bit chubby."

Transfers between the two clubs are uncommon and have grown increasingly rare over time.

Transfers listed from 1919 onwards, when Arsenal relocated from south London to north London and the rivalry with Tottenham is widely regarded to have taken shape.

Why Would Arsenal Want to Sign Romero?

If there is one position where Arsenal appear well stocked on paper, it is center back. The Gunners currently have seven players capable of operating in central defense.

Piero Hincapié was the most recent addition after his loan was converted into a permanent deal in June, though the overall number is somewhat reduced by several players—Hincapié included—being deployed as fullbacks. The likes of Jurriën Timber and Riccardo Calafiori have become more associated with right back and left back roles respectively. Ben White, originally signed as a center back in 2021, now operates predominantly at right back when available, and has been linked with a summer exit.

When it comes to center backs that Mikel Arteta genuinely deploys in that role, Arsenal may only have three genuine options—Gabriel, William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera. With Saliba set to miss an "extended period" due to a back problem, defensive cover has become notably thin.

Romero has an established Premier League track record, and this reported interest appears opportunistic, driven by his troubled situation across north London at Tottenham. That said, Spurs will not sell to Arsenal.

Which Club Will Cristian Romero Actually Join?

Spurs have already brought in two new center backs this summer, spending approximately $70 million (£52 million) on Dutch international Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside the free-agent signing of Marcos Senesi.

That gives De Zerbi four senior center back options without Romero—including Kevin Danso and Ben Davies—even before considering what lies ahead for Kōta Takai. Archie Gray also featured heavily as a center back throughout last season.

Regarding Romero's future, The Athletic reports a "verbally agreed" transfer fee in principle between Spurs and Inter, though he has yet to begin contract negotiations with the Italian champions. Meanwhile, BBC Sport reports that Atlético Madrid have revived their interest from last summer and are once again actively pursuing Romero, with talks underway over a deal reported by the BBC to be in the region of £40 million.

At present, a reunion with fellow Argentine Diego Simeone appears the most probable outcome—especially if Atlético follow up their interest with a formal bid close to Spurs' asking price.