Tottenham Hotspur has omitted Richarlison from its registered 25-player Premier League squad for the first half of the season. The decision follows a collapsed transfer window move to Everton and manager Roberto De Zerbi stating that the Brazil forward repeatedly asked to leave the London club.
The exclusion marks a sharp and definitive turn for the 29-year-old striker, who finished as Tottenham’s leading league scorer last season with 11 goals in 32 appearances. Despite serving as a key figure during the club’s relegation battle, Richarlison does not feature in manager Roberto De Zerbi’s plans for the current campaign. The club informed the player of the omission before the summer transfer deadline.
How the Deadline Day Transfer Saga Unraveled
That arrangement unraveled when Richarlison rejected the personal terms on offer. Because Tottenham was simultaneously set to bring in Iliman Ndiaye from Everton as part of a connected transaction, the refusal halted the entire domino chain.
Turkish club Trabzonspor subsequently entered the picture, submitting two separate bids of £15m and £20m, both of which Tottenham rejected. While Richarlison reportedly agreed to personal terms with Trabzonspor verbally on a deal that could triple his current salary, the club-to-club valuation gap left the player in contractual limbo. With his contract running through June 2027, the Turkish transfer window remaining open until September 4 offers a narrow runway for any potential resolution.
De Zerbi’s Assessment and Richarlison’s Social Media Statement
The breakdown of negotiations spilled into public view after Tottenham’s opening matches. After starting in a defeat to Brentford, Richarlison was left out of the squad when Spurs lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle United on August 29, 2026. Following that match, De Zerbi offered a blunt assessment of the situation.
“Richarlison, I don’t know. He said too many times he wants to leave.”
Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham Hotspur manager, via BBC Sport
Earlier in August, the manager noted that it’s not easy to find another striker like Richarlison
while acknowledging the player’s uncertain future. Tottenham reinforced their attacking options by signing Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush on loan, who replaced Richarlison against Newcastle. Alongside Dominic Solanke, Marmoush now stands as a primary senior option in the central striker role.
Amid the mounting speculation, Richarlison released an explosive statement on Instagram addressing the turmoil surrounding his career trajectory.
“After everything I’ve been through in the last few years, I’ve decided that never again will anyone decide my future for me. I went through a lot of bad things, and almost all of them happened because decisions were made by other people. Pressure, threats, retaliation – none of that scares me. I’ve been through far worse, believe me. I’ve always made it clear, every time I had the chance, that leaving for another club would only happen if it was also good for the club. If it wasn’t, I would never accept it. Just like I didn’t accept it when everything was going badly and they needed me. I stayed and gave everything. So, I hope they treat my situation with the same respect I’ve always shown Spurs and everyone who worked with me during this period. Just don’t try to decide for me. If they reach an agreement between Spurs and Everton, I will return to my beloved club. My intention was to go back to the place where I was very happy, yes, but the negotiations happened only in the way certain people wanted, and it will no longer be like that. Despite all this turmoil, I am under contract at Spurs and will remain at the club’s disposal.”
Richarlison, forward, via 101 Great Goals
Squad Registration Realities and What Lies Ahead
Tottenham’s roster decisions were further constrained by Premier League registration rules. Clubs are permitted to list a maximum of 25 senior players over the age of 21, alongside a mandatory quota of eight homegrown players. Spurs held one more non-homegrown player than allowed, forcing the coaching staff to drop someone from the registered list.
While the Premier League transfer window closed on Tuesday with Tottenham having spent heavily across the broader squad building effort, the open window in Turkey provides a path for an impending departure before the September deadline. If Trabzonspor increases its valuation or Tottenham softens its stance, an agreement remains possible; otherwise, the forward faces months of domestic exile until the January transfer window opens, where club officials will have an opportunity to reassess squad registration lists.
