Tottenham omit Richarlison from Premier League squad

Richarlison once served as a symbol of Tottenham Hotspur's end to a 17-year trophy drought, a cult hero who played a key role on the left wing during the latter stages of the Europa League and started the final against Manchester United. Now, the 29-year-old Brazil international has been stripped of his place in the 2026-27 Premier League squad, leaving him as a peripheral figure at a club where he has worked under five different head coaches.

The decision to omit the forward from the 25-man registration list on Thursday follows a complete breakdown in trust between the player and head coach Roberto De Zerbi. The exclusion is a concrete consequence of a summer defined by contradictory claims of loyalty and a desire to leave. While Richarlison has publicly called for respect, De Zerbi has been blunt about the striker's mindset, stating after a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle on Saturday that Richarlison said too many times he wants to leave, according to Yahoo Sports.

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The tension reached a boiling point on Monday when Richarlison posted an outburst on Instagram. He claimed that pressure, threats, retaliation did not scare him and insisted that never again will anyone decide my future for me. He argued that he had remained with Spurs when things were difficult, stating, I stayed and gave everything. So, I hope they treat my situation with the same respect I've always shown Spurs.

The fallout extended to the touchline during a 5-1 Carabao Cup victory over Charlton Athletic. Upon realizing he would not be used as a substitute, Richarlison reacted by ripping tape off his fingers and kicking a ball, a visible display of frustration reported by The Athletic.

The registration decision is particularly stark when viewed alongside the squad's logistical constraints. Premier League rules require clubs to submit a 25-man senior list (for players over 21) that includes at least eight homegrown players. Tottenham have opted to use these limited spots on players who are physically unable to play. Xavi Simons, who suffered an ACL injury in April and is unlikely to return until 2027, remains registered. Similarly, Wilson Odobert—who suffered an ACL tear in February—occupies a spot as a homegrown player.

This creates a glaring contradiction: players sidelined for years are registered while the club's top goalscorer from last season is not. However, the technical justification is that Omar Marmoush, signed on a season-long loan from Manchester City with an obligation to buy, represents a significant upgrade over Richarlison. De Zerbi's lack of faith was evidenced on the opening day against Brentford, where a 3-0 defeat was punctuated by a second goal that resulted directly from Richarlison's inability to hold the ball up under pressure from Kristoffer Ajer.

Tottenham attempted to resolve the situation through a complex deal with Everton. According to The Athletic, the clubs reached an agreement in principle on Sunday for Richarlison to return to his former club in a separate deal from the signing of Iliman Ndiaye. The move collapsed when Ndiaye opted for Manchester City to secure Champions League football and Richarlison failed to agree on personal terms with Everton.

The financial stakes for Tottenham are high, having spent more than £350 million in a summer window that included the arrivals of Sandro Tonali, Sávio, Mateus Fernandes, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Tosin Adarabioyo. Despite this investment, the club currently sits bottom of the Premier League table following losses to Brentford and Newcastle.

For Richarlison, who has previously been candid about his mental health struggles, the prospect is now one of isolation. Having been told before the English transfer deadline that he would be omitted to facilitate a move, he now faces a choice between a late exit and reserve-team exile.

While the English window is closed, the Turkish window remains open. Trabzonspor has been linked with the forward, and The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Turkish side had made an offer. However, Completesports notes that as of Thursday, Tottenham claimed they had not received a formal offer.

The final opportunity for the 29-year-old to avoid the reserves depends on whether a deal with Trabzonspor is finalized before the Turkish transfer window closes this Friday, September 4.

Registration contrasts and squad hierarchy

The decision to exclude Richarlison is highlighted by the inclusion of players who are long-term casualties. While the 29-year-old is sidelined, the club has used limited registration spots on players facing extended recoveries.

This hierarchy reflects a preference for depth in theory over the availability of the club's top league scorer from last season, who netted 11 goals in 32 appearances. The exclusion follows a pattern of instability for the Brazilian; according to The Athletic, he has worked under five different head coaches at Tottenham without ever feeling like a perfect fit for any of them.

Chronology of a collapsed exit

The path to this exile began during the pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand, where Roberto De Zerbi first revealed that Richarlison sometimes wants to leave. The situation accelerated on Sunday, when Tottenham and Everton reached an agreement in principle for a double deal involving the return of Richarlison and the signing of Iliman Ndiaye. However, as The Athletic reports, the arrangement failed because Ndiaye chose Manchester City for Champions League football and Richarlison could not agree on personal terms with Everton.

The timeline of the fallout continued through the following week:

• Monday: Richarlison posts an Instagram outburst claiming never again will anyone decide my future for me.
• Tuesday: The English transfer window closes at 11:00 pm (2200 GMT) with the player still at Spurs.
• Wednesday: Reports surface that Trabzonspor has made an offer.
• Thursday: Tottenham omits the forward from the squad and claims no formal offer has been received.

The immediate consequence is a period of professional isolation for a player with under a year left on his contract. For the Brazilian, the next step is to secure a move to the Turkish league before the window closes this Friday, September 4, or face a stint in the reserves.