Cristian Romero ruled out vs Everton as Tottenham fight to avoid relegation

Tottenham Hotspur will be without captain Cristian Romero for their crucial Premier League fixture against Everton on May 24, 2026, after the centre‑back suffered a serious knee injury on April 12 and has been sidelined for the remainder of the season. The absence removes a leading defensive figure as Roberto De Zerbi’s side bid to secure a point or better to remain in the Premier League.

Why it matters

Romero’s absence matters because he is both Spurs’ captain and a regular starter at the heart of their defence. With Tottenham embroiled in a relegation fight, missing a player of his experience and leadership could be decisive for a team needing a result to stay up. The source also notes ongoing questions about his future after he trained in Argentina during his rehabilitation, which has attracted fan attention.

Injury timeline and rehabilitation details reported

According to the source, Romero suffered a serious knee injury on April 12, 2026, and did not play again this season. He was expected to return in time for the 2026 World Cup with Argentina. The report says Tottenham granted permission for him to continue rehabilitation under Argentina’s medical staff, and Romero was pictured training at Club Atlético Belgrano in Argentina as part of that process. The source adds that he subsequently returned to London and was seen socialising, and a journalist reported he will be in the stands to support the team on matchday.

De Zerbi’s defensive options vs Everton

With Romero unavailable, the reported Tottenham starting XI for the game includes Kevin Danso and Micky van de Ven as the central defensive pairing. The same lineup names Antonín Kinský in goal, Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie as full‑backs, and a midfield anchored by Rodrigo Bentancur and João Palhinha. Richarlison and Mathys Tel are listed to lead the attack alongside Conor Gallagher in an advanced midfield role. These selections, as presented in the source, suggest De Zerbi will trust his recent defensive alternatives to deliver the result Spurs need.

Everton, the source reports, will field a strong XI despite having no relegation or European places at stake. Reported Everton names include Jordan Pickford; Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Vitali Mykolenko; James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam in midfield; Merlin Röhl, Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall and Iliman Ndiaye behind striker Thierno Barry.

Tactical and squad implications

Losing Romero reduces Spurs’ options for a physical, organised centre‑back who also acts as captain. Relying on Danso and van de Ven changes the defensive profile: both have demonstrated ability this season but pairing different players can affect set‑piece organisation, defensive communication and the way De Zerbi’s side build from the back. The source does not provide detailed tactical analysis or comment from the club or manager on selection rationale, so further verification is advised.

• Cristian Romero suffered a knee injury on 12 April 2026 and will miss the remainder of the club season, per the source.
• Tottenham granted permission for Romero to rehabilitate with Argentina’s medical staff; he trained at Club Atlético Belgrano.
• Romero was reported to have returned to London and is expected to be in the stands to support Spurs for the Everton match.
• Reported Tottenham central defensive pairing for the game: Kevin Danso and Micky van de Ven.
• Reported Everton starting XI includes Jordan Pickford and Thierno Barry leading their attack.

What happens next

Tottenham must cope without Romero for this decisive fixture and De Zerbi’s selection will reveal how the team handle the pressure of a relegation fight without their captain. The source indicates Romero is targeting fitness for Argentina’s World Cup, but no official medical update, timetable or confirmation from Tottenham or the Argentine FA is included in the supplied material. The reported lineups should be checked against official club announcements before publication as team sheets can change.