Tottenham Hotspur 2026/27 Season Preview: Transfers, Squad Depth & Fixture Outlook

 

 

Tottenham's 2025/26 season felt like watching a car skid toward a cliff and stop just short of the edge. Postecoglou lost his job first. Thomas Frank showed up with new energy, but eight months and eight winless matches later, he was gone too. Igor Tudor stepped in as the emergency option to steady things. Even then, survival came down to the final day. A single first-half goal from João Palhinha against Everton was enough to seal a 1-0 win and keep Spurs in 17th. Now Roberto De Zerbi takes charge of a team that still has plenty of problems to address. Sandro Tonali has arrived from Newcastle for a £100m club-record fee, Andy Robertson brings real left-back experience, and nobody at GoalBible is pretending this is a quick patch job. When I looked at the early transfer activity, I saw a manager trying to build something real, but the foundation is cracked and the expectations are already shifting.

 

Which New Signings Could Make the Biggest Impact for Spurs?

 

Tottenham Hotspur New Signing Players (2026/27)

 

 

Tottenham Hotspur Departure Players (2026/27)

 

Note: Updated on 2 Sep 2026

 

Sandro Tonali's £100 million transfer from Newcastle could have the biggest immediate impact on Spurs. A two-hour conversation with Roberto De Zerbi about the club's direction convinced him to join. Tonali gives Spurs the control, intensity, and experience that midfield sorely missed. I expect his impact to stretch beyond technique too. His leadership could reset the standards inside a squad that looked broken for long stretches last season. Mateus Fernandes arrives alongside him, offering another technically sharp option who can move the ball forward and connect midfield to attack.

 

At the back, Jan Paul van Hecke stands out. He already knows De Zerbi's possession system from their time at Brighton, so he should help Spurs develop a more organized defensive structure. His signing, along with Marcos Senesi, matters even more after Cristian Romero and Luka Vušković's departure.

 

Andy Robertson adds proven Premier League quality and natural leadership, while Omar Marmoush brings pace and flexibility in attack. I think Marmoush could be especially useful when Spurs need a more direct edge in the final third.

 

The biggest risk is Mykhailo Mudryk. A reunion with De Zerbi could unlock his old form, but after his recent lack of minutes, this feels like a high-stakes gamble. Tonali looks like the safest bet to change Spurs immediately. Marmoush and Mudryk will likely decide how dangerous this attack becomes.

 

More on this: Is the Current Tottenham Squad Stronger Than Last Season?

 

Which Position Groups Earn the Top Marks for Spurs?

 

Goalkeepers – 3/5 (GoalBible Score)

 

Players: Antonín Kinsky, Martin Dúbravka, Brandon Austin

 

Tottenham’s goalkeeping department looks solid enough, but there are still some question marks. Antonín Kinsky is now the clear first choice after Guglielmo Vicario’s departure, and his early-season numbers show both promise and concern. Based on FBref, he has made five saves in two Premier League appearances but has also conceded five goals. That is obviously not enough evidence to judge him definitively, but it does highlight how much responsibility will fall on the 23-year-old this season.

 

Martin Dúbravka provides considerable experience as the second-choice goalkeeper, while Brandon Austin gives Spurs another domestic option. However, the lack of a larger sample size for Kinsky makes this one of the less convincing areas of the squad for me.

 

I think Spurs have enough quality here to avoid a major problem, but Kinsky’s consistency will be crucial. If he grows into the role, the position could quickly look stronger than this rating suggests. 

 

Defence – 3.5/5 (GoalBible Score)

 

Players: Andy Robertson, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven

 

Tottenham’s defence has plenty of quality, but it is also the area that needs to prove it can function consistently. Spurs conceded 57 goals last season and finished with a -9 goal difference, their worst since 2002/03. That makes defensive improvement one of the clearest requirements this season.

 

The personnel is certainly strong on paper. Van de Ven, Udogie and Porro remain important options, while Senesi, Van Hecke and Robertson provide additional quality and depth. The numbers behind Senesi and Van Hecke are particularly encouraging: they recorded 459 and 420 line-breaking passes respectively last season, showing their ability to contribute to progressing the ball. There is also evidence that the group could be more resilient, with Senesi and Van Hecke making 37 and 36 Premier League appearances respectively last season.

 

For me, the biggest question is not individual quality but whether this group can be more consistent over 38 games. There is enough depth to cover injuries, and Robertson adds another experienced option. Overall, I would give the defence 3.5/5: clearly improved in depth and quality, but last season’s 57 goals conceded means they still have something to prove.

 

Midfield – 4/5 (GoalBible Score)

 

Players: Xavi Simons, Conor Gallagher, James Maddison, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Mykhailo Mudryk, Rodrigo Bentancur, Luca Williams-Barnett 

 

Tottenham’s midfield may be the clearest test of whether their new approach can actually deliver. The club has spent £185 million on Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, a huge investment that reflects De Zerbi’s desire for immediate improvement rather than gradual development. Both also bring a degree of reliability, having made 35 and 36 Premier League appearances respectively last season, which is particularly valuable after Spurs’ injury problems over the past two campaigns.

 

What interests me most is what this investment means for the rest of the squad. With no European football this season, Spurs should have fewer demands on their players, while Tonali, Fernandes, Maddison, Gallagher, Bentancur, Gray and Bergvall give them considerable midfield depth. That could allow De Zerbi to maintain competition for places without being forced to overuse the same players.

 

But this is also where expectations become difficult to ignore. Spurs have effectively chosen immediate performance over long-term development, with young players such as Luka Vušković and Will Lankshear leaving and questions even surrounding Bergvall’s future. For me, that makes the midfield more than just a strong area of the squad: it is the clearest measure of whether De Zerbi’s win-now gamble is working.

 

Forwards – 2.5/5 (GoalBible Score)

 

Players: Richarlison, Mathys Tel, Sávio, Dominic Solanke, Omar Marmoush, Wilson Odobert

 

Here is what keeps me up at night about Tottenham: the forward line. Last season they scored 48 league goals, and nearly 40% of those came from set pieces. That was the worst open play output in the league, and it showed every single week. Richarlison was the top scorer, which sounds fine until you remember his injury record. Relying on him for a full season feels like a gamble I would not take.

 

The squad does have more options now, I will give the club credit for that. After losing Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, and Brennan Johnson in consecutive summers, they had to bring in fresh blood. Mathys Tel should give Roberto De Zerbi something different up front. But my problem is not about having enough forwards. It is about having that one special player who scores goals week in and week out no matter the opponent.

 

Dominic Solanke's fitness problems are bad enough, but the other injury concerns across this forward group make things look even shakier. Too many question marks in one area for my liking. If Roberto De Zerbi can keep his attackers available and generate more from open play, this group could improve. But until a consistent scorer emerges, the attack stays Tottenham's biggest problem.

 

More on this: Who Becomes the Most Important Player in This Tottenham Side?

 

Will Tottenham’s Early Fixture List Expose Their True Level?

 

The early fixture list could quickly expose Tottenham’s true level under Roberto De Zerbi. Brentford, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Manchester United all feature among the opening six games, giving Spurs little time to find their rhythm. After two consecutive 17th-place finishes, these matches should reveal whether last season’s improvement was genuine progress or simply a short-term revival.

 

There is enough favourable opposition in the middle of the campaign, including Ipswich Town, Sunderland, Fulham, Hull City and Coventry City, for Spurs to build a strong points cushion. With no European football to contend with, dropping points in these matches would be particularly difficult to justify. The schedule therefore gives them a clear opportunity to establish themselves before the pressure increases.

 

The final five matches include Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa. That is a brutal way to end any season. The first north London derby comes at home in December, which could set an early psychological tone. But the return fixture at the Emirates falls on May 1, and that timing could not be much worse.

 

So my view is that Spurs cannot afford to leave their best work until spring. If they build a strong points total before the new year, that gives them breathing room for the difficult run-in. They can absorb a few bad results without panic. But if they start slowly, the final month becomes a genuine stress test of De Zerbi's project. The margin for error is small, and the schedule is not forgiving.

 

Tottenham Hotspur 2026/27 Updated Fixture List

 

August 2026

 

September 2026

 

October 2026

 

November 2026

 

December 2026

 

January 2027

 

February 2027

 

March 2027

 

April 2027

 

May 2027

Note: Updated on 2 Sep 2026

 

Can Tottenham Turn Last Season’s Survival Into Sustained Progress?

 

I would say yes, Tottenham can build on last season's escape, but only if Roberto De Zerbi's late-season revival develops into consistent performances over a full campaign. His arrival clearly changed the team's trajectory and Spurs collected 11 points from De Zerbi's first seven Premier League matches, a marked improvement that helped secure their survival, though the real test is whether that improvement can become the foundation for a stronger side rather than remain a short-lived reaction to a change in management.

 

There are also reasons to question how sustainable last season's results were. Tottenham were the only Premier League side to overperform their attacking xG by at least four goals while also underperforming defensively by the same margin, and most strikingly, they scored 7.91 goals more than their chances suggested they should have. That kind of finishing overperformance can rescue a team in difficult circumstances, but it is difficult to build a season around it, which is why 2026-27 should provide a much clearer assessment of De Zerbi.

 

 

He now has a full pre-season and an entire campaign to replace short-term momentum with consistency, and his emphasis on creating "a clear playing style" and giving the team "a soul" also suggests that he understands the difference between simply getting results and building a repeatable level of performance. 

 

My own view at GoalBible is that sustained progress should be judged by whether Tottenham can raise their underlying level rather than simply produce a better league position. If they continue to outperform their chances, rely on moments of individual quality or need late runs of form to recover from poor periods, the improvement may prove fragile, but if De Zerbi can turn last season's seven-game revival into consistent performances across an entire campaign, then the survival fight will have been the beginning of something far more meaningful.

 

More on this: Have Tottenham Really Improved?

 

How Is Tottenham Performing This Season?

 

To figure out where Tottenham are heading, I need to be honest about the chaos they just came out of. These are the confirmed stats from 2025/26, the only reliable data we have before this new season even starts.

 

2025/26 Premier League Stats

 

 

How Will De Zerbi Change Tottenham’s Build-Up?

 

 

Tottenham are expected to shift towards a slower, more intricate short-passing style under De Zerbi. He has admitted that seven games last season were not enough time to properly implement his ideas, so the team still relied on the long-ball pragmatism that had been important during their survival fight. A full pre-season should now give him more time to establish the controlled build-up he prefers.

 

However, his experience at Brighton suggests this will not happen overnight. Brighton took a season to fully develop his preferred style before becoming one of the Premier League’s most committed short-passing teams in his second year.

 

The predicted 4-2-3-1 could provide a balanced base for this transition. Rather than forcing Tottenham to abandon their ability to play directly, the shape can support De Zerbi’s preference for controlled build-up while retaining players capable of playing longer passes. Marcos Senesi attempted 477 long balls and completed 182 last season, both the highest figures among Premier League outfielders, while Pedro Porro ranked fourth and sixth respectively. The formation therefore does not necessarily represent a complete break from last season’s approach; instead, it could give Spurs a structure from which they can develop a more varied build-up.

 

The additions of Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke also strengthen the build-up from another angle. They ranked first and second respectively for line-breaking passes in the Premier League last season, with 420 for Senesi and 459 for Van Hecke. This is particularly relevant to De Zerbi’s short-passing approach because Spurs now have defenders capable of progressing the ball beyond the first line rather than simply circulating possession across the back.

 

In my view, the biggest challenge is not making Tottenham more possession-oriented, but making their build-up purposeful. De Zerbi’s system demands patience and precision, while Spurs may still need moments of directness. The ideal outcome would therefore not be a complete rejection of their previous approach, but a more controlled ability to switch between short combinations and longer passes depending on the situation.

 

How Does the Market Currently Rate Tottenham?

 

Tottenham’s current odds of 81.00 suggest that the market remains cautious about their title prospects. Before the 2026/27 season began, Spurs were priced at 41.00 at J8DE. Despite their ambitious summer and Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival, the market has not yet been convinced that Tottenham can translate those changes into a genuine title challenge.

 

Note: Odds are accurate as of 2 Sep 2026

 

GoalBible Final Verdict

 

There is no denying that Tottenham have improved their squad. Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes in midfield give them a different dynamic, and Jan Paul van Hecke looks like a reliable partner for Micky van de Ven at the back. After several seasons of falling short, the club finally made the changes they needed to make. The real test is whether all this new talent can finally turn into consistent performances week in and week out. That is what separates a good window from a successful season.

 

 

Who Can Deliver Tottenham’s Goals in 2026/27 Premier League?

 

I think Richarlison will deliver Tottenham's goals in the 2026/27 Premier League season. These predictions are not pulled from thin air, either. They are based on each player's actual 2025/26 data from FBref, projected forward into the new campaign.

 

1. Richarlison

 

No. of Goals: 11–14

No. of Assists: 3–5

 

Richarlison scored 11 league goals last season, which made him Spurs' top scorer. In my view, he is still their clearest Golden Boot shout. He starts up top, and honestly, with the doubts around other attackers, I think he will have to take on even more responsibility.

 

2. Dominic Solanke

 

No. of Goals: 7–10

No. of Assists: 2–4

 

What happened to Dominic Solanke last season? Fifteen appearances, three goals. Not great, but here is the thing: I do not think that is on him. His campaign was wrecked by injuries, and I would expect a full season to bring a much better return from a striker of his quality.

 

3. Sávio

 

No. of Goals: 6–9

No. of Assists: 4–6

 

Sávio is one of my more optimistic picks. He has already scored on his Spurs debut against Charlton in the League Cup, while De Zerbi reportedly wants 10–12 goals from him. I would still take a more conservative view for his first Premier League season.

 

4. Mathys Tel

 

No. of Goals: 5–8

No. of Assists: 2–4

 

Mathys Tel scored four Premier League goals with one assist last season despite playing only 1,349 minutes. With more responsibility, he has a reasonable opportunity to improve that return, although expecting him to suddenly become a 15-goal scorer would be excessive.

 

5. Mohammed Kudus

 

No. of Goals: 5–7

No. of Assists: 4–6

 

Two goals and five assists from 19 games last season. That is not a bad return for Mohammed Kudus. For me, his value is more about creation than goalscoring, and I think that balance continues this year.

 

Premier League Position Prediction: Tottenham 2026/27

 

Prediction: 7th Place

 

17th and 41 points are the floor, not the ceiling, for this Tottenham side. De Zerbi has more attacking options now, and his style should boost possession and chance creation. But I would not expect a smooth ride. Tactical rebuilds come with defensive lapses and the occasional bad away day. What I do like is the European situation, or lack of it. No midweek games means De Zerbi can pick his best team every week, keep legs fresh, and actually get time on the training pitch to coach his structure. That is a massive advantage for a team in transition.

 

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