Tottenham sign former Juventus defender Radu Drăgușin - Romanian star joins on 6-year deal

Tottenham Hotspur completed their tenth major signing of the season on Wednesday, when the Premier League club announced the signing of central defender Radu Drăgușin from Genoa. The 21-year-old talent makes the move to North London for a reported initial fee of €25 million, with potential add ons that could take the final figure to €31m. If those terms are met, Drăgușin will become Tottenham’s 11th most expensive signing ever. As part of the deal, Djed Spence will go on loan to the Serie A club for the remainder of the season. The Romania international has signed a contract with Tottenham which will run until 2030 and he will wear the number six shirt.

Drăgușin is the second player to join Ange Postecoglou’s side in the January transfer window, following the arrival of RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner on loan for the remainder of the season. Spurs have had to contend with an injury crisis in the first half of the season, with the club missing no less than six first team players to injuries at this moment in time. Drăgușin also represents the fourth defender to sign a permanent deal with Spurs this season, following the arrival of Ashley Phillips from Blackburn, Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg and Pedro Porro’s move from Sporting being made permanent. 

Who is Radu Drăgușin?

After joining Juventus as a young player in 2018, Drăgușin spent a number of years on loan at different Serie A clubs, before agreeing a permanent move to Genoa in the summer of 2023. Prior to making the move permanent, the Romanian international thrived on loan at the Italian club and saw his market value soar from €3.5m at the start of the year to where it now stands at €20m. As such, only three central defenders in the Italian top-flight saw their market value increase by more than the new Spurs signing. "Drăgușin is one of the most interesting young defenders in Serie A,” said Transfermarkt’s Italian expert Jatin Dietl, when asked about the new Spurs signing. “He is a modern player, physically very strong, difficult to beat in the aerial game and skilful in his passing. Gifted with a long, very precise pass, Radu is able to quickly turn the game around to counter attack quickly. In marking, he is aggressive and focused, often well-positioned. At times, he likes to come out with the ball outside his own penalty area, acting as a ‘regista’, displaying a distinct personality.”