De Zerbi’s Spurs Reshape as Maddison and Solomon Depart

James Maddison watches another friend walk out of the Tottenham door. The squad reshaping under Roberto De Zerbi is gathering pace, and sentiment is being left behind.

De Zerbi’s Spurs take shape

Since arriving in North London, De Zerbi has wasted little time putting his stamp on the dressing room. Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson have all come through the door, a spine of experience and technical quality added in one sweep.

Results in pre-season have fed the optimism. Spurs are unbeaten, the football sharper, the mood lighter. But everyone at the club knows those games count for nothing once the Premier League starts on 22 August away at Brentford.

To get there, De Zerbi must trim. The current group is bloated for a side without European football, and the clear-out has already claimed Will Lankshear, Luka Vuskovic and Radu Dragusin. Another name has now joined that list.

Maddison’s message as Solomon departs

Manor Solomon is the latest to go, leaving Tottenham for Championship side West Ham United on a permanent deal, three years after first arriving.

His Spurs career barely flickered on the surface – just six senior appearances – but clearly he left a mark behind the scenes. James Maddison made sure that was known, posting a farewell on his Instagram stories on 10 August.

“Wish you the best of luck, mate! One of the nicest chaps I've ever come across, and helluva player as well! SSG King!” he wrote, a public nod to a teammate whose impact was felt more in the training ground than the team sheet.

Solomon’s most productive football in England came away from Tottenham. On loan at Leeds United in the 2024-25 season, he delivered 10 goals and 13 assists in 41 games, a return that reminded everyone why he arrived with such promise. Now he returns to the Championship with West Ham, carrying both that Leeds form and the affection of those he leaves behind in North London.

For an Israeli international who never truly got his chance in a Spurs shirt, the warmth of the reaction tells its own story.

Creativity crisis as opener looms

While departures dominate the headlines, one question hangs over Tottenham’s start to 2026-27: will Maddison himself be ready?

The 29-year-old creative fulcrum made it back onto the pitch late last season, offering a glimpse of his influence after previous injury problems. But he has been conspicuously absent from pre-season under De Zerbi.

The manager has confirmed a minor setback and refused to risk him on tour. On its own, that might not sound alarming. Set it against the current injury list, and it becomes far more significant.

Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus are all sidelined. That is a huge chunk of Tottenham’s attacking imagination removed in one hit. With Brentford looming on the opening weekend, the need for someone to knit attacks together grows more urgent by the day.

Tonali and Fernandes can both threaten goal and drive from midfield, which offers De Zerbi some insurance. Spurs can still carry a punch without Maddison. What they lose is the man who so often chooses the moment and the angle of attack.

For now, the rebuild continues without him on the pitch and without Solomon in the squad. The new Tottenham is taking shape quickly. The real test is whether their chief creator will be there to conduct it when the season finally starts.