Conor Gallagher has officially joined Tottenham Hotspur from Atletico Madrid for a reported fee of £35 million. The 25-year-old England international has signed a long-term contract with the North London club, marking a return to the Premier League after a brief stint in La Liga. Spurs hijacked the deal from under the noses of Aston Villa, who had also expressed strong interest in the midfielder.

Gallagher's arrival is seen as a significant boost for Tottenham, especially after Rodrigo Bentancur was sidelined for three months due to a hamstring injury. Manager Thomas Frank described Gallagher as a "top midfielder" and highlighted his leadership qualities, maturity, and character, stating that he will bring these attributes to the dressing room. Frank also praised Gallagher's "running power, pressing ability, and eye for goal," emphasizing the player's potential to strengthen the team in a key area of the pitch.

Gallagher himself expressed his excitement about joining Tottenham, stating, "I'm so happy and excited to be here, taking the next step in my career at an amazing club". He added, "I wanted to be a Spurs player and thankfully the Club felt the same. It was very easy, it happened very quickly and I'm ready to get on the pitch".

Prior to his move to Tottenham, Gallagher had a diverse career, including time in Chelsea's youth ranks, loan spells at Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, and West Bromwich Albion, and a successful season-long loan at Crystal Palace. He then returned to Chelsea, where he made 45 appearances in all competitions and scored his first senior goals for the Blues. He often captained Chelsea during the 2023/24 season. In August 2024, Gallagher joined Atletico Madrid, playing 77 times for the Spanish side.

Throughout his career, Gallagher has earned a reputation as a versatile and energetic midfielder with a strong work ethic. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech praised Gallagher's commitment and leadership abilities, stating, "He's always been working hard. He's one of the players that's always cared about winning and about the club...You find that even young players can have special abilities to be a leader. Conor is one of those players".

While Gallagher is known for his energy and ability to win the ball back, he has also expressed a desire to contribute further up the field. In a previous interview, he stated, "I feel like runs into the box I'm good at, and I can win the ball back well and press well...I like to score goals, and I want to score more".

Tottenham's acquisition of Gallagher addresses not only their immediate need for a midfielder due to Bentancur's injury but also their long-term goals. His status as a homegrown player will also help the club comply with squad rules in the Premier League and in Europe. Some reports indicate that Tottenham may look to add another midfielder with a different skillset, specifically a "midfield connector" or a deep-lying creative playmaker.

With Gallagher's arrival, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank hopes the midfielder can provide the spark to turn the season around. Gallagher could potentially make his debut against West Ham United if he is registered in time.