Defender Cristian Romero, 28, who previously played alongside Son Heung-min (now with Los Angeles FC) at English professional club Tottenham Hotspur, will now team up with Lee Kang-in at Spain's Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid announced today (August 15) that they have signed Romero from Tottenham.

His contract runs until June 2031.

British media outlets including the BBC reported that Romero's transfer fee is 40 million euros (approximately 65.6 billion won).

Romero is a center-back who has made 58 appearances for the Argentina national team, contributing to their victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and their runner-up finish at this year's North and Central America World Cup.

Starting his professional career at Argentina's Belgrano in 2016, he has played in European leagues since moving to Italy's Genoa in 2018.

Having passed through Italy's Juventus and Atalanta, Romero joined Tottenham on loan for the 2021-2022 season before making the move permanent in August 2022, playing four more years there.

He made 156 official appearances for Tottenham, recording 13 goals and 7 assists, and played a key role in winning the UEFA Europa League in the 2024-2025 season.

During the Europa League final, when captain Son Heung-min started on the bench, Romero wore the captain's armband in his place. Following Son's transfer to the United States, Romero went on to serve as Tottenham's captain for the 2025-2026 season.

Prior to Atletico Madrid's announcement of his transfer today, Romero posted a message on social media saying, "I am saying goodbye to a place that has meant more than just a club over the past five years," adding, "This was my home, a challenge, and a place where I built an important part of my life with my family."

He stated, "When I first came here, I had a clear dream of leaving my mark on the club's history," and added, "I believed the only way to achieve that dream was through hard work, sacrifice, and reaching the goal of winning titles, and we accomplished that."

Finally, he said, "I will remember the happy moments, the lessons learned, the people who stood by my side, and the love I received over five years."

(Photo: Screenshot from club X, Yonhap News)