Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in a £35 million deal, strengthening their midfield ahead of the business end of the season.
Spurs fought off competition from Aston Villa to secure the 25-year-old’s signature, with Gallagher committing his future to the north London club on a contract running until 2031.
Gallagher only joined Atletico from Chelsea in August 2024 for a fee of around £33m, in a deal that saw Joao Felix move in the opposite direction. However, after just one season in La Liga, the energetic midfielder has returned to the Premier League.
“I’m so happy and excited to be here, taking the next step in my career at an amazing club,” Gallagher said.
“I know how great the fans are and I want to create special moments and memories together.”
The move could prove crucial for Gallagher’s England ambitions. He has won 22 caps, but has featured just once under current manager Thomas Tuchel, playing 59 minutes in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal. A strong run of form under new Spurs boss Thomas Frank could boost his hopes of making the squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Gallagher was an unused squad member at the 2022 World Cup but played five times during Euro 2024, where England were beaten by Spain in the final.
Spurs head coach Frank believes Gallagher will make an immediate impact.
“Conor is a top midfielder who we have worked tirelessly to add to our squad,” Frank said.
“He brings leadership, maturity, character and personality, along with running power, pressing ability and an eye for goal. He will strengthen us in a key area of the pitch.”
Tottenham had been actively searching for midfield reinforcements after Rodrigo Bentancur was ruled out for at least three months. The Uruguay international requires surgery following a hamstring injury sustained in last week’s 3-2 Premier League defeat by Bournemouth.
Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League with 27 points from 21 games and have won just once in their last six league outings. They remain in the hunt for Champions League knockout qualification, sitting 11th in the league-phase standings, despite recent struggles across competitions.
Tottenham were knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa last weekend, marking their seventh defeat in 13 matches, and will next host West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Gallagher joined Chelsea’s academy in 2006 and enjoyed loan spells at Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and Crystal Palace before establishing himself at Stamford Bridge. Across spells with Chelsea, West Brom and Palace, he made 136 Premier League appearances. During his time at Atletico Madrid, he featured 77 times in all competitions, scoring seven goals.
His return to England could prove a defining moment—for both Tottenham’s season and Gallagher’s international future.