Tottenham Hotspur have omitted forward Richarlison from their 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the season. The decision follows the collapse of a proposed move to Everton and leaves the Brazilian in limbo as the Premier League window has closed.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed the situation last week, stating the player had asked to leave. The club communicated the squad decision to Richarlison before Tuesday's domestic transfer deadline. This news comes as Spurs sit 20th in the Premier League, having lost their opening two matches and conceding five goals without scoring.
Richarlison looked close to rejoining Everton before Tuesday's deadline, but a deal ultimately fell through. The 29-year-old, who joined Spurs from Everton in the summer of 2022, is in the final year of his contract. He has been told he is not part of De Zerbi's plans moving forward. With the Premier League window shut, potential exits now rely on leagues with later deadlines, such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Turkish side Trabzonspor has been linked with a move ahead of their September 4 deadline.
Roberto De Zerbi addressed the matter after Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United, a match for which Richarlison was left out of the matchday squad. "Richarlison, I don't know. He said too many times he wants to leave," the manager said. The Brazilian started the season-opening loss to Brentford but was replaced by new signing Omar Marmoush against Newcastle.
The player has been vocal on social media about taking control of his career. On August 31, he posted: "After everything I’ve been through in the last few years, I’ve decided that never again will anyone decide my future for me." In another post earlier in the week, he emphasized that any departure would need to suit both him and the club. These statements followed De Zerbi's comments in early August, where the manager admitted the striker was uncertain about his future but acknowledged, "it's not easy to find another striker like Richarlison."
Losing last season's top league scorer is a significant blow for a team already struggling. Richarlison scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 32 Premier League appearances during the 2025/26 campaign, a season where Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation. His total for the season was 12 goals across all competitions. His omission further depletes an attack that has failed to score in two games. The club's current standings position highlights the immediate challenge.
Spurs have been active in reshaping their squad, bringing in Omar Marmoush on loan from Manchester City, Mykhailo Mudryk on loan from Chelsea, and signing Tosin Adarabioyo permanently from Chelsea. Sandro Tonali, Sávio, and Mateus Fernandes have also arrived. Despite these additions, the team has six points to make up on leaders Manchester City already. Richarlison now joins Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, and James Maddison on the club's injuries and absences list, though his situation is contractual rather than medical.
The immediate focus shifts to the pitch and trying to secure a first point of the season. Tottenham's next fixture is an away match against Nottingham Forest on September 5. Forest are currently 15th in the table. Securing a positive result there is vital for a squad looking to climb from the bottom. The club had not received an offer for Richarlison as of Thursday. His future will likely be resolved in the coming days as foreign transfer windows conclude. The team's upcoming schedule can be viewed on our fixtures page.
Tottenham travel to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday, September 5.
