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Richarlison transfer saga thrown into chaos after new twist with rarely-used FIFA law in play

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The future of Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison has taken yet another major twist over recent hours - with his options until January rapidly beginning to run out.

A deal between Everton and Spurs for Richarlison to rejoin the Toffees fell through before deadline day, with the Brazilian stating he wanted to return to his former club but that 'negotiations were being driven by what others wanted'.

Since then, he has been left out of Spurs' 25-man Premier League squad - though he is still training with the first team - and now a move back to Brazil with Vasco da Gama appears to be off.

READ NEXT: Richarlison issues public statement over Spurs and Everton transfer claims

Richarlison transfer now 'ruled out'

Vasco, one of Brazilian football's most historic clubs, had been desperately trying to sign Richarlison before their transfer window closed on September 11.

According to O Globo, Vasco could not afford Spurs' asking price for the striker and had therefore resorted to convincing him to terminate his contract.

But the report also claimed that Vasco were pursuing an unusual contract arrangement with Richarlison, whereby he would sign a long-term deal but be paid in instalments, with a different club potentially taking on those payments if the 28-year-old decided to move clubs again at the end of the season. It is also claimed that they had offered 'a larger signing bonus and a share of any future sale'.

A deal for Richarlison clearly would have been significant for Brazilian football, with Santos having enticed Neymar back to what was his first professional club last year.

But in a new update, Globo say that Richarlison has rejected the offer of a long-term contract with Vasco and that the club have now 'ruled out' a transfer.

What can Richarlison do now?

It appears as if Richarlison is now likely to stay at Spurs for the rest of 2026. He had been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, but their window closed on September 6.

Whether the Brazilian can terminate his contract is unclear. FIFA does not allow players to register with a new club if their existing contract has been terminated outside of a transfer window, except in specific circumstances.

As per Global Sports Advocates, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) uses Swiss labor law principles when deciding whether 'just cause' applies to a contract termination.

That includes 'persistent' non-payment of wages, failure to provide adequate training facilities and 'breach of other material contractual terms'.

The third point is the one that could relate to Richarlison, as it notes examples such as 'absence of player registration, when registration is cancelled or the athlete is not registered to national championships'. As mentioned above, Richarlison is not part of Spurs' 25-man Premier League squad and can therefore only play in domestic cup competitions until January at the earliest.

There is a possible precedent, with former Atletico Madrid defender Renan Lodi unilaterally terminating his contract with Al Hilal last September after being left out of their Saudi Pro League squad. He subsequently signed for Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro - though did not join them until the end of December.

In a club statement, Al Hilal said the club had 'received after his [Lodi's] departure a letter from his legal representative notifying them of the termination of his active contract with the club'.

What FIFA's Article 6 states about contract terminations

Article 6 of FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, concerning player regulations and updated in January 2025, reads: "A professional who has unilaterally terminated their contract with just cause, or whose contract has been unilaterally terminated without just cause by their club, may be registered outside a registration period.

"Upon receipt of the ITC request, the FIFA general secretariat shall expeditiously assess on a prima facie basis whether the unilateral termination occurred with or without just cause and permit or deny the registration accordingly. Such prima facie assessment is without prejudice to a decision of the Football Tribunal about the consequences of the termination of contract."

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What would actually happen if Chelsea were stripped of 2017 Premier League title after Mauricio Pochettino demand

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Mauricio Pochettino recently called for Chelsea to be stripped of their 2016-17 Premier League title, and precedent does exist for Tottenham Hotspur to receive the trophy belatedly.

Pochettino, who coached both Chelsea and Spurs prior to his appointment with the USMNT, has called for the Blues to be stripped of their 2016-17 Premier League title, which they won with 93 points.

That title arrived under Antonio Conte, with Poch’s Spurs in second on 86 points. If Chelsea were to be stripped of their crown, precedent does exist for the North London club to receive it — but that outcome is far from certain.

READ NEXT: Dejan Kulusevski return update given after 477 days out with specific games set as target

Could Tottenham actually be awarded Chelsea's 2017 Premier League title?

Pochettino recently claimed that Tottenham Hotspur “didn’t compete with the same rules” as Chelsea, after the Blues admitted to making £47 million in undisclosed payments between 2011 and 2018.

However, it remains unlikely that Spurs will receive a redistributed Premier League trophy, as the case against Chelsea to be stripped of their title is weak.

At the time, the Premier League did not impose a sporting sanction on Chelsea, rather their punishment was enforced financially, and through transfer bans.

In July, the club was fined £10 million, and given a suspended two-window transfer ban, for breaching rules related to agent payments between 2009 and 2022.

The English top-flight recalculated Chelsea’s accounts from the time, and determined that the undisclosed payments in question would not have caused a PSR breach.

And while the now-concluded disciplinary decision could be reopened, it remains unlikely, with Chelsea’s punishments having already been imposed.

And if the Blues were stripped of their title, there is no guarantee that Tottenham Hotspur would automatically inherit the Premier League trophy — precedent exists in both their favour, and against it.

READ NEXT: 'That is criminal!' - Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer derail live Sky Sports interview after chaotic Leeds game

What happened when football titles have previously been stripped from clubs?

The precedent in question was established in the Italian top-flight, as Serie A titles were stripped from Juventus in 2004-05 and 2005-06 amid doping allegations.

That scandal, an infamously dark moment in Italian football history, spiralled from doping accusations, to an investigation into match-fixing agreements held between Juventus staff and Serie A officials.

Among the offences were Juventus match-assigned referees being favourable to the Serie A champions, pressuring officials to make decisions that benefited the Old Lady, and issuing punishments that rendered opposition players unable to face Fabio Capello’s side.

As a result, Juventus were stripped of two successive Serie A titles, but the decisions did not align. For 2004-05, the trophy remained unassigned, while in 2005-06, the honour was redistributed to Inter.

Therefore, the Serie A’s established precedent makes it unclear as to whether Spurs would see the Premier League trophy passed to them from Chelsea — the likelihood being a coin flip.

Pochettino believes any outcome barring Tottenham Hotspur receiving the title would be incorrect, stating: “We should win one title, one Premier League. We should have been awarded it.

"[Chelsea] were punished, they admitted, so that's it? The title should be for the team that was second. It's not me complaining. It's the truth. If they admitted they broke the rules, the Premier League title was for the second best team.

"I'm not scared to say the truth. The Chelsea fans will be upset with me because I'm saying this, but if we were at Tottenham and broke the rules I'd admit the same,” concluded the 54-year-old.

READ NEXT: Chelsea star banished from first-team at Stamford Bridge in brutal Xabi Alonso call

Time will tell whether Pochettino’s wish will come true, but even if Chelsea’s case was to be re-opened, Spurs receiving the 2016-17 Premier League title is anything but a certainty.

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Mauricio Pochettino demands Premier League strip club of title in extraordinary interview

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Mauricio Pochettino has called for his former club Chelsea to be stripped of a Premier League title in a new bombshell interview.

Pochettino had one season in charge at Chelsea in the 2023/24 season, before he left via a mutual agreement following a sixth-placed finish.

But his best work in England came with Spurs, who he led to consecutive second-placed finishes in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 campaigns.

Spurs recorded 86 points but lost out to Antonio Conte Chelsea's, who recovered from a shaky start to win the title by seven points.

Mauricio Pochettino calls out Chelsea rule breaches in extraordinary interview

However, nearly a decade on and Pochettino has claimed he should be a Premier League champion as he spoke out about Chelsea being punished.

In March, Chelsea, having been charged by the Premier League for breaches of competition rules, were hit with a £10.75 million fine.

The fine would have been £20 million but was reduced by 50% because Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital self-reported 74 breaches of Football Association rules when they bought Chelsea in 2022.

A six points deduction was not applied upon appeal after Chelsea admitted to making £47 million in secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties regarding transfers between 2011 and 2018.

Transfers involving Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, Willian, Ramires, David Luiz, Andre Schurrle and Nemanja Matic were in the Premier League's report and all four of those aforementioned players played in Chelsea's title triumph.

None of the players are implicated or accused of any wrongdoing.

Speaking to UK media outlets, including the BBC, Pochettino said: "We should win one title, one Premier League. We should have been awarded it. "They were punished, they admitted, so that's it? The title should be for the team that was second.

"It's true that we didn't compete with the same rules. OK, now we can say that they scored goals, they won games, and like this. OK, that's it, but it's completely fair to say that we didn't compete before the start of the season with the same card.

"Maybe with the same rules, if we apply the same things, maybe we could've signed some players that would have made the team better or scored more goals. It's not me complaining. It's the truth. If they admitted they broke the rules, the Premier League title was for the second best team.

"I'm not scared to say the truth. The Chelsea fans will be upset with me because I'm saying this, but if we were at Tottenham and broke the rules I'd admit the same."

How else were Chelsea punished for rule breaches?

On top of the reduced fine, Chelsea received two transfer bans. A one-year ban was suspended for two years, while there also a nine-month suspension on signing academy players imposed.

This punishment, which also carried a £750,000 fine, was in relation to the registration of academy players between 2019 and 2022.

The Premier League acknowledged Chelsea's "exceptional cooperation" and "pro-active self-reporting".

Pochettino is currently managing of the United States national team and took charge at the World Cup on home soil in the summer.

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Dejan Kulusevski return update given after 477 days out with specific games set as target

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Dejan Kulusevski is finally nearing a return to action after a injury nightmare totalling 16 months, his international manager Graham Potter has confirmed.

The Sweden international has not played since May 2025 after suffering a knee injury, which ultimately caused him to miss the entirety of last season.

He returned to first-team training with Spurs at the beginning of September, and Potter has stated that he is hopeful of being able to call the 26-year-old up to the Sweden squad for the upcoming international break.

When Dejan Kulusevski could return to football revealed

Sweden will contest four Nations League matches as part of an unusually elongated international break, which runs between September 21 and October 6.

They face Romania at home on September 25, before hosting Poland on September 28.

Two away fixtures then follow against Bosnia and Herzegovina (October 2) and Poland (October 6).

Given he is not yet under consideration for a Spurs comeback under Roberto De Zerbi, Potter says Kulusevski is 'very close' to a return - and wants to reach an agreement with Spurs' medical staff for him to feature in the above fixtures if he is passed fit to do so.

"He's very close. I'm so impressed with him, how he's handled his injury," Potter told Swedish outlet SVT. "Of course, we have to be careful with him.

"I hope he comes with us, but we have to talk to Dejan and Tottenham first.

"The importance of getting Dejan Kulusevski into the national team cannot be emphasised enough. He is incredibly important to the team. We love him, his character and qualities. He is a world-class player and it helps enormously to have him around."

Dejan Kulusevski's complex knee injury explained

Kulusevski underwent surgery on his a right patella injury at the end of the 2024/25 season, with it initially being expected that he would be out for several months.

His absence continued as last season wore on, however, with the lack of updates on his condition leaving Spurs fans concerned.

The 26-year-old had further surgery in March, but did not return to fitness in time to play a part in this summer's World Cup.

In May, following the nation's World Cup squad announcement, Sweden's team doctor Jonas Werner explained the complexity of Kulusevski's injury and exactly why it had taken him so long to recover.

"He hasn't played football in a year, but even the medical assessments made this spring have pointed in the direction that he wouldn't be ready [for the World Cup]," Werner said, as per Fotbollskanalen.

"Cartilage injuries, like in Dejan's case, are troublesome. They are difficult to treat. Plus, he has it in a place that gets a lot of stress. The injury simply hasn't healed enough to handle that stress."

Following Spurs' 0-0 draw away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, manager De Zerbi said Kulusevski had suffered a 'small, small problem' on his return to training but was still making positive strides in the final stages of his recovery.

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Arsenal’s 21-player summer transfer list leaked as two Spurs players included

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The 21-player shortlist targeted for transfers by Mikel Arteta’s side this summer has been revealed, with raids on Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and even both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur planned.

According to Sami Mokbel, via BBC Sport, the Gunners compiled a 21-player shortlist this summer, featuring the likes of Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola, and Yan Diomande.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid were able to secure signatures from those players ahead of Arsenal, with the Gunners’ sole attacking signing of the window arriving in Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.

Arteta’s side even targeted three players from their London rivals: Joao Pedro from Chelsea, and both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven from Tottenham Hotspur.

READ NEXT: Arsenal and Chelsea have spent £175m signing each other's players in PL era and one club is clear winner

Arsenal’s 21-player transfer shortlist revealed

Beyond Tzolis, the Gunners were also able to obtain signatures from Bruno Guimaraes, Piero Hincapie, Ezri Konsa and Illan Meslier, bolstering their defence and midfield.

Guimaraes stands tall as Arsenal’s signing of the summer, however, the club’s 20-player shortlist has revealed that Arteta was also pursuing Elliot Anderson, for a brief time.

The ex-Nottingham Forest midfielder signed for Manchester City in one of the Premier League’s most-expensive deals this summer, and Arsenal were made aware of Enzo Maresca’s interest.

As a result, Guimaraes emerged as the club’s primary focus by mid-June, accepting that Anderson’s transfer to the Cityzens was already too advanced.

Conversely, Tottenham Hotspur centre-back duo Romero and van de Ven were perceived as secondary options to begin with, in the event of Arsenal failing to secure Konsa’s services.

The former Villa man was Arteta’s first-choice defensive option, with his ability to play at right-back further alluring the Spaniard.

The Gunners’ wish came true, with Konsa signing in a deal worth £55 million; however, Villa initially rejected an offer for £40 million and appeared reluctant to part ways with the Englishman.

Mokbel’s report also revealed that Arsenal firmly believed they stood a "realistic chance" in signing Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid, before the Brazilian penned a new contract with his La Liga club.

Elsewhere, their pursuit of Julian Alvarez was one of slightly less conviction, as it became quickly apparent that the Argentine had little interest in joining the Gunners.

Additionally, Arsenal were given the option of matching Chelsea’s bid for Villa star Rogers, but refused to do so, standing firm in a valuation far below the £117 million it took from the Blues to secure his services.

READ NEXT: Gary Neville issues apology live on Sky Sports as Arsenal goal disallowed

Arsenal's transfer shortlist in full

Morgan Rogers: Aston Villa

Bradley Barcola: PSG

Kenan Yildiz: Juventus

Yan Diomande: RB Leipzig

Nico Paz: Como

Eli Junior Kroupi: Bournemouth

Elliot Anderson: Nottingham Forest

Joao Pedro: Chelsea

Vinicius Junior: Real Madrid

Julian Alvarez: Atletico Madrid

Malick Fofana: Lyon

Sandro Tonali: Newcastle

Alex Scott: Bournemouth

Amadou Onana: Aston Villa

Jeremy Monga: Leicester City

Louis Page: Leicester City

Ivan Fresneda: Sporting Lisbon

Cristian Romero: Tottenham Hotspur

Mickey van de Ven: Tottenham Hotspur

Jacobo Ramon: Como

Tarik Muharemovic: Sassuolo

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Richarlison left out of Tottenham's Premier League squad after agreeing to eye-watering transfer

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Richarlison has been left out of Tottenham's Premier League squad after being told he is not part of Roberto De Zerbi's plans - and it appears he's on the verge of leaving for a new club.

Ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline, it looked like Richarlison was going to join former club Everton in a somewhat unexpected move.

A report from The Athletic on Sunday claimed that a transfer had been agreed in principle for the Brazil international to return to Merseyside, with the deal being subject to personal terms and a medical.

It later emerged that a package worth £35 million had been agreed between the clubs, but the proposed transfer fell through after an eventful few hours that involved Richarlison releasing a cryptic statement.

The 29-year-old does not feature in Roberto De Zerbi's plans for the upcoming season, and that was relayed on Thursday afternoon after being left out of their Premier League squad. So, what next?

Richarlison has yet to secure a move elsewhere, but the Brazilian has agreed to join Turkish side Trabzonspor, according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims they are prepared to triple his current salary.

As per Capology, Richarlison currently earns £90,000 per week excluding bonuses at Tottenham. You do the math.

The North London club are said to have turned down bids from Trabzonspor worth £15 million and £20 million, although a new proposal for the player is expected in the coming hours.

The Turkish transfer deadline is on Friday (4 September).

Trabzonspor have splashed some serious cash this summer

As they look to challenge the likes of Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas this season, Trabzonspor have added some high-profile names to their ranks in recent weeks, including Mohamed Salah.

After leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract, Salah penned a two-year deal with the club last month worth £14.5 million per season, which equates to around £280,00-a-week.

Salah's former Liverpool teammate Fabinho has also joined the ranks alongside Franculino and Aral Simsir, who both joined from Danish side FC Midtjylland for £14.6 million and £12.8 million respectively.

Richarlison will not work under Fatih Tekke if he joins Trabzonspor

Earlier this week, Trabzonspor accepted the resignation of head coach Fatih Tekke, days after they initially rejected his request to step down.

Tekke handed in his notice after his side were knocked out of the Europa League by Hungarian club Ferencvaros.

Trabzonspor confirmed on Wednesday that they had reached a "mutual understanding" with Tekke, who led the club to a third-place finish in the league last season.

"As a result of the discussions held, we have mutually agreed to part ways with Fatih Tekke in line with Trabzonspor's interests and future-oriented goals," they said in a statement.

"Over his approximately 18‑month tenure, Fatih Tekke brought significant value to Trabzonspor.

"Beyond contributing to the development of the players added to our squad during this period, he delivered important sporting and financial gains for our club. By bringing the Turkish Cup back to our museum, he once again wrote his name into Trabzonspor's history.

"At this point, we reached a mutual understanding with our coach - who stated he would never allow his presence to harm Trabzonspor in any way - that drawing a new roadmap, prioritising the club's interests above all else, had become unavoidable.

"We thank our coach for his efforts, his dedicated work, the successes he delivered, and the value he added to Trabzonspor."

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Tottenham in danger of breaking Premier League rule as Roberto De Zerbi set to make crucial Deadline Day decision

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Tottenham in danger of breaking Premier League rule as Roberto De Zerbi set to make crucial Deadline Day decision - SPORTbible
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Tottenham Hotspur have been busy in the transfer window this summer as they build a squad for Roberto De Zerbi to compete for silverware this season.

This has seen Spurs acquire the likes of Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali, and Savio, with their total expenditure being £304.5 million.

However, they have not had the desired impact on the club in their opening two fixtures, as they were comfortably beaten by both Brentford and Newcastle United.

This poor start has seen De Zerbi and Spurs once again turn towards the transfer market to find solutions, with the club now set to acquire two signings from their London rivals Chelsea.

The arrival of Mykhailo Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo will mean that Spurs have made 10 additions to their squad this summer, the Ukrainian joining on loan, while the defender makes a permanent move that will initially cost £ 7 million before rising with add-ons.

However, these deals will have a seismic impact upon the club as they are set to break a Premier League rule, one relating to non-homegrown players.

Premier League clubs can register up to 25 senior players for the 2026/27 season, but the rules state that only 17 can be non-homegrown.

A homegrown player is someone who was registered with an English or Welsh club for at least three complete seasons before turning 21, with the player being developed, not their nationality, alongside the fact that eligible Under-21 players sit outside this limit.

These two additions will mean that Spurs have 18 non-homegrown players and so they will have to bid farewell to one of their squad to follow the rules of the Premier League.

Solutions to Tottenham Hotspur’s non-homegrown player issue

The obvious solution is to bid farewell to Richarlison, with Spurs wanting the attacker to exit the club this summer.

It was believed he was part of the deal with Everton that would have seen him return to Goodison Park for the campaign, while Iliman Ndiaye would have made the move to London.

Or he could be the man not registered for their Premier League campaign following the closure of the transfer window if he is still at the club come 11 pm tonight.

However, another method of freeing up a place regarding the non-homegrown players would be to not register Xavi Simons for the first half of the season as he recovers from his ACL injury. This would allow him the time to fully recover and to help them in the second-half of the campaign.

The only other easy solution would be to not register the summer signing of Martin Dubravka; however, this would make his acquisition pointless if he was not able to fulfil his role as deputising keeper, leaving this role to Brandon Austin.

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Roberto De Zerbi's remarkable comments about Mykhailo Mudryk from 2022 have resurfaced as deal close

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Roberto De Zerbi previously claimed that a "very sensitive" Mykhailo Mudryk can win the Ballon d'Or, a comment that has resurfaced as Tottenham look set to sign the winger on a season-long loan.

Mudryk, who worked under De Zerbi during his time at Ukrainian Premier League side Shakhtar Donetsk, has agreed personal terms with the North London club ahead of a deadline day move.

The transfer will include an option to make his move permanent at the end of the season for £75 million, according to widespread reports, three years after he joined Chelsea in a deal worth £88.5 million.

It has been a difficult period for the 25-year-old, who has not featured in a competitive game for the Blues since their Europa Conference League clash against Heidenheim in November 2024.

But after resolving his doping case with the FA last month, Mudryk will try to reignite his career under De Zerbi, a manager who once claimed that the winger can win football's biggest individual prize.

Speaking in 2022 after Brighton were linked with a move for the then-Shakhtar player, De Zerbi said: "Mudryk is a fantastic player but Brighton can't buy hi. I like him, just like all my ex-players I like, but Brighton can't buy Mudryk."

He added: "I think Mudryk can win the Ballon d'Or in the future. I know the value of Mudryk, he has the potential to win the Ballon d'Or."

A month later, De Zerbi once again insisted that Mudryk can win a Ballon d'Or but described the player as someone who is "very sensitive" and "needs affection".

Speaking to La Repubblica, he said: “Mykhailo has the potential for a top career. In my opinion, he can also win the Ballon d’Or. He is a player of the highest level but he is also very sensitive."

The Italian added: "He needs affection. We will see if he matches his potential.”

Mykhailo Mudryk's statement after being cleared to return to play

Mudryk was given a four-year ban by the FA in June 2025, but after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, his suspension was ended early.

Back in November 2024, he tested positive for meldonium following international duty with Ukraine.

The winger posted a statement in July after he was cleared to play. "After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect," he wrote.

"I am grateful that this process has reached a conclusion, that I have been cleared to return to football and that I can now look ahead to my future.

"This has been the most difficult period of my career.

"As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance. My commitment to competing fairly and representing my club and country with professionalism and integrity has always been important to me.

"I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and belief throughout this period. I also want to express my deep gratitude to everyone at Chelsea FC, my teammates and the Chelsea supporters who have been with me throughout.

"I would also like to thank my legal team and others who assisted for their tireless work on my case. My focus now is on returning to football, working hard every day, and making a positive contribution on the pitch."

He added: "Thank you to everyone who continued to believe in me. I look forward to the next chapter of my career."

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Spurs and Chelsea to do business for the second time in 17 years with double deal close

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Spurs and Chelsea to do business for the second time in 17 years with double deal close - SPORTbible
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London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are set to do transfer business with one another for just the second time since 2009, it has been reported - with a shock double deal on the cards.

Spurs have spent nearly £400 million during the summer transfer window, having backed manager Roberto De Zerbi to conduct a rebuild of the squad following last season's 17th-placed finish.

That rebuild was expected to conclude with the signing of Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye for a fee of £60 million, with a deal reportedly agreed in principle on Sunday.

Richarlison was due to move the other way in what has been claimed to be a separate deal, but the Brazilian hasn't agreed personal terms over a prospective £35 million move to Everton - and has released an unprecedented statement over the situation on social media.

Manchester City have now agreed a deal to sign Ndiaye and he is expected to complete the move before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Tuesday.

Spurs have therefore been forced to turn their attentions elsewhere - and are set to sign two players from their bitter London rivals.

Spurs close in on unprecedented double deal with Chelsea

BBC Sport reported on Monday evening that they had entered talks over a loan deal to sign Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who is free to leave Stamford Bridge on a temporary basis.

Mudryk was permitted to return to football last month, having been suspended since he failed a drugs test in December 2024. The Ukrainian was banned for four years but his appeal to the Court of Arbitration was 'resolved'.

The FA stated that a change to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) procedures since the failed test meant that, had the sample been collected today, the concentration of the banned substance meldonium would not have been reported and he would not have broken any anti-doping rules.

Prior to his £88 million move to Chelsea in January 2023, De Zerbi managed Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk and appears keen to reunite with the 25-year-old in north London.

But that is not the only business that is likely to be completed between Spurs and Chelsea.

The Athletic have reported on Monday evening that Spurs had reached an agreement over a surprise move to sign centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo on a permanent basis.

The 28-year-old defender had been made surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge following the arrival of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace.

It is reported that Spurs have agreed personal terms with Tosin and he will undergo a medical on Tuesday.

He is set to become the fifth centre-back to be discarded by Chelsea this summer, after Trevoh Chalobah joined Como on a permanent deal and Benoit Badiashile, Mamadou Sarr and Axel Disasi all left on loan.

The last time Spurs and Chelsea dealt with each other directly was in 2023, when young striker Jude Soonsup-Bell moved to Spurs to join their development squad.

You have to go back to 2009 for the last time a first team player moved between the two clubs. Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was allowed to join Spurs on a free transfer during the winter transfer window, and played 37 games in all competitions over the next four years before departing for LA Galaxy in 2013.

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'I've always made it clear...' - Richarlison issues public statement over Spurs and Everton transfer claims

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Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison has issued a lengthy statement amid speculation over a potential deadline day move to Everton.

The Athletic's David Ornstein reported on Sunday that a deal had been agreed in principle for the Brazil international striker to return to Everton from Spurs after leaving the club to go in the opposite direction four years ago.

It later emerged that a package worth £35 million had been agreed, with Everton's Iliman Ndiaye to join Spurs in a separate deal worth £60 million.

But Richarlison posted a cryptic message to his Instagram account shortly after those initial reports, featuring a photo of a Portuguese-language mural which read in English: "I am the villain of many poorly told stories."

Fabrizio Romano claimed on Monday afternoon that the 28-year-old hadn't yet agreed personal terms with Everton which, despite reports to the contrary, was directly holding up Ndiaye's move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Senegal international is now expected to join Manchester City on deadline day.

Now, Richarlison has posted two statements, both written in Portuguese, via social media.

'I've always made it clear...' - Richarlison on Spurs and Everton reports

In a message posted to his Instagram account, he wrote: "After everything I've been through in the last few years, I decided that NEVER AGAIN would anyone decide my future for me.

"I went through a lot of bad things during that time, and almost all of them happened because of decisions made by other people. Pressure, threats, retaliation - none of that scares me. I've been through worse things... believe me!

"I've always made it clear, at every opportunity, that any move of mine to another place would also have to be good for the club. If it wasn't, I would never accept it... just like I didn't accept it when everything here was falling apart and they needed me. I stayed and gave my life.

"So, I hope they treat my situation with the same respect that I've always had for the Spurs and for all the people who worked with me during this period.

"Just don't try to decide for me."

A second statement followed, which reads: "If Spurs and Everton reach an agreement, I'll return to the club that's close to my heart.

"My intention was to go back to the place where I was so happy. But the negotiations were being driven by what others wanted, and that's not how it's going to be anymore.

"Despite all the turmoil, I am under contract with Spurs, and I will make myself available to the club."

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