Tottenham Excludes Richarlison from Premier League Squad: Tactical Analysis and Squad Management Lessons

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London — September 1, 2026.

When the Premier League squad list for the 2026-2026 season was announced, Richarlison's name was conspicuously absent. Not on the bench, not on the waiting list, but completely missing from the 25 registered players. This decision marked an unwanted conclusion to one of the most controversial transfer deals in the modern era of the North London club.

From Everton's home ground to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, from the 2026 Copa America title to moments of silence on De Zerbi's bench, Richarlison's journey in the Premier League has been filled with contradictions. The Brazilian player, once expected to be the perfect piece for Tottenham's attack, now faces the harsh reality: he is no longer trusted at a club that spent £60 million to secure his signature.

The decision to exclude Richarlison is not merely a personnel change. It is the clearest tactical statement from head coach Ange Postecoglou's successor, Roberto De Zerbi, about the direction Tottenham intends to pursue in the near future. More importantly, it serves as a cautionary lesson about managing player assets and the financial risks that come when an expensive transfer fails to meet expectations.

Background: £60 million for a dream yet to materialize

In July 2026, Tottenham Hotspur completed a 5-year contract with Richarlison from Everton, with an initial transfer fee of £50 million plus £10 million in performance-related add-ons. This was the third most expensive transfer in the club's history at the time, behind only Gareth Bale and Tanguy Ndombele. Expectations placed on the 25-year-old Brazilian were enormous: he was expected to fill the void left by Harry Kane's departure to Bayern Munich, or at least become a versatile attacking option alongside Son Heung-min and James Maddison.

The reality after two and a half years did not fully meet expectations. In 66 appearances across all competitions for Tottenham, Richarlison scored 11 goals and provided 5 assists. These numbers are not terrible for a backup player, but for a player valued at £60 million and earning around £200,000 per week, expectations were much higher.

The 2026-2026 season, under manager Ange Postecoglou, saw Richarlison make 33 appearances across all competitions, scoring 8 goals and providing 4 assists. He scored in the 2-1 League Cup victory over Liverpool, scored a brace in the 4-1 win against Newcastle, and provided a decisive assist in the 2-0 Premier League win over Manchester United. However, these moments of brilliance were not frequent enough to make him the first-choice option in Postecoglou's tactical system.

The issue was not just about scoring efficiency. Richarlison's playing style, built in Everton's 4-2-3-1 system under Carlo Ancelotti and later Rafael Benítez, was not fully compatible with the high-pressing and ball-control philosophy that Postecoglou implemented at Tottenham. He frequently played as the central striker, but his ability to actively press and make off-ball runs to create space was not rated as highly as other options in the squad.

Manager change and the final straw

In the summer of 2026, Tottenham decided to change their head coach. Despite a promising first season with Europa League glory, Ange Postecoglou was sacked following an underwhelming start to the Premier League season. His replacement was Roberto De Zerbi, the Italian manager famous for his extreme ball-control philosophy and demands for players to strictly adhere to his complex tactical system.

De Zerbi built his reputation at Shakhtar Donetsk and Brighton Hove Albion with a philosophy of absolute ball control. At Brighton, he transformed the team into one of the highest possession-based sides in the Premier League, averaging 63.2% possession per match in the 2026-2026 season. Attacking players in De Zerbi's system need to constantly move, receive the ball in tight spaces, and participate in the building-up play from the defensive third.

Richarlison, with his direct playing style and preference for space to run into, is not the type of player suited for this philosophy. He needs space to utilize his pace and strength, but De Zerbi wants to control everything within tight areas. This is a fundamental incompatibility that cannot be resolved through additional training or attitude changes.

The decision to exclude Richarlison from the 25-man Premier League squad came after De Zerbi had sufficient time to evaluate the squad during the pre-season period. According to sources close to the club, the Italian manager requested the leadership to remove players who were not suited to his system, and Richarlison was the first name on that list.

Tactical analysis: Why Richarlison doesn't fit De Zerbi

To fully understand this decision, we need to analyze De Zerbi's tactical system and his requirements for attacking players.

De Zerbi's tactical system is typically built on a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 foundation, with extremely high demands for movement and spatial awareness. In the 4-3-3 formation, the three forwards need to constantly swap positions, create triangles with the midfielders, and participate in pressing from the opposition's defensive third. There are no fixed positions for any player; everything is based on the principle of "fluid football."

Throughout his career, Richarlison has proven to be most effective when placed as a central striker with clear instructions: wait for opportunities and explode when space opens up. At Everton, he was used on both wings and in the number 10 position, but his best position remained the center of the attack, where he could utilize his physical strength and aerial ability.

Data from the 2026-2026 season shows Richarlison averaged only 2.3 high-intensity sprints per match, while players in De Zerbi's system typically average 4.5-5. He also had a pass accuracy rate of just 71%, significantly lower than the 85-90% De Zerbi demands from attacking players in his system.

Another crucial factor is pressing ability. De Zerbi requires attacking players to participate in an active pressing system from the opposition's defensive third. According to StatsBomb data, Brighton under De Zerbi averaged 8.7 successful presses per match within 35 meters of the opposition goal. Richarlison, with his injury history and playing style, was not designed for this role.

Financial impact: £60 million and the amortization equation

The decision to exclude Richarlison not only affects on-field tactics but also creates serious financial consequences for Tottenham Hotspur.

Under modern football accounting principles, a player's transfer fee is amortized evenly over the contract term. With a 5-year contract worth £60 million, Tottenham amortizes £12 million per year for Richarlison. After 2.5 years at the club, his remaining book value is still around £30 million.

However, the issue lies not in amortization but in depreciation. If Richarlison leaves Tottenham this summer at a significantly lower price than his remaining value, Tottenham will have to record an exceptional loss in their financial statements. Financial experts estimate that if Richarlison is sold for £15-20 million, Tottenham will have to record a loss of over £10-15 million.

Not to mention the wage issue. At £200,000 per week, Richarlison costs Tottenham approximately £10.4 million annually. If he cannot find a new club willing to pay equivalent wages, Tottenham may have to agree to subsidize part of his wages to expedite the transfer, adding further financial burden.

The total value of assets Tottenham has "burned" in the Richarlison deal, including transfer fees paid, wages paid, and losses from selling at a lower price, could reach £80-100 million. This is an astounding figure for any club, especially in the context of increasingly strict Premier League financial regulations.

The rescue market: Saudi Arabia and Turkey

With the Premier League transfer window closed, the only remaining path for Richarlison is to move to leagues with open windows. The two most likely destinations are Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

The Saudi Pro League has spent over £700 million in the past two summers to recruit stars from Europe. Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, Jordan Henderson, and numerous other Premier League players have moved to this league. With Saudi Arabia's transfer window extending until late September, Richarlison still has the opportunity to join one of the clubs there.

Saudi clubs like Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, or Al Ahly are all seeking quality attacking players to increase their competitiveness. Richarlison, with his Premier League experience and proven goal-scoring ability, could be an attractive option for these clubs. However, the issue lies in wages. At £200,000 per week at Tottenham, he will demand equivalent or higher wages at a new club, something not every Saudi club is willing to pay for a player who has never played in this league.

Turkey is another viable option. The Süper Lig has witnessed the rise of several strong clubs like Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş, teams willing to spend money on quality players. Turkey's transfer window also extends to late September, allowing Richarlison to negotiate and complete a deal in the coming time.

An important factor to note is that Richarlison still has 2.5 years remaining on his contract with Tottenham. This means Tottenham can demand a reasonable transfer fee rather than being forced to sell at "giveaway prices." However, with him not being registered for the Premier League and almost certainly not in De Zerbi's plans, Tottenham has a strong motivation to expedite the transfer process.

Lessons in squad management and recruitment

The Richarlison case raises serious questions about Tottenham Hotspur's recruitment and squad management processes in recent years.

The Richarlison deal is not the only Tottenham transfer that has had problems. Tanguy Ndombele, purchased for £55 million from Lyon in 2026, never met expectations and was eventually sold for only a fraction of his original fee. Giovani Lo Celso, purchased for £27 million, also never found a stable position at the club. Bryan Gil, brought in as part of the Erik Lamela deal, also failed to perform as expected.

The common thread in these failed transfers is that Tottenham has often recruited players based on potential and performance at their previous clubs, rather than thoroughly evaluating their fit with the club's tactical system and playing style. Richarlison is a good player, but he was not suited to what Tottenham was building under different managers.

The issue goes deeper: Tottenham has continuously changed managers, leading to each bringing their own philosophy and requirements. From Mauricio Pochettino to José Mourinho, then Antonio Conte, and now De Zerbi, each manager has had their own vision of the ideal squad. This creates an endless cycle of buying and selling players, where unsuitable players are removed and new players are brought in.

Another important lesson is the importance of building a squad around a stable tactical philosophy. Rather than constantly changing direction, Tottenham needs a clear long-term plan for the playing style the club wants to pursue, and only recruit players who fit that philosophy.

Impact on Tottenham's attack

Excluding Richarlison from the Premier League squad creates a significant gap in Tottenham's attack. With Son Heung-min now 32 and no longer at his sharpest, Tottenham needs to find alternatives or at least additions to their attacking options.

Tottenham's current attacking options include: Son Heung-min, James Maddison (usually playing in the number 10 role), Timo Werner (recently joined from RB Leipzig), and Bryan Solomon. These are quality players, but none of them are pure central strikers in the traditional sense.

De Zerbi may use a more flexible system, with Maddison playing highest in the number 10 role, and Werner or Son on the flanks. This aligns with the Italian manager's "fluid attack" philosophy, but also raises questions about squad depth if injuries occur.

Tottenham is reportedly monitoring several strikers on the transfer market, including targets from Serie A and Ligue 1. However, with the Premier League window closed, any new signing would have to wait until the next transfer window or be registered from the youth squad.

Reactions from stakeholders

The decision to exclude Richarlison has sparked mixed reactions from stakeholders.

From Tottenham, through a brief official statement, the club affirmed this was a purely tactical decision reflecting the coaching staff's vision for the ideal squad. The statement made no mention of any disciplinary issues or attitude problems with Richarlison, emphasizing it was purely a professional decision.

Roberto De Zerbi, in a pre-match press conference against Leicester City, was asked about this decision. The Italian manager declined to comment in detail, only saying he "respects all players" and "focuses on what can be controlled." When asked if Richarlison could return to the squad in the future, De Zerbi simply replied: "I don't talk about players who are no longer here."

From Richarlison's side, the Brazilian player has not made any public statements. According to sources close to the player, he is very disappointed with the situation but remains professional and focused on finding a new club. Richarlison is reportedly declining some offers from second-tier European leagues because he wants to continue playing at the highest possible competitive level.

Tottenham's fanbase has split into two camps. One believes this decision was correct because De Zerbi needs to build the squad around his philosophy and Richarlison no longer has a role. The other believes that removing such an expensive player without a worthy replacement is an ill-considered decision by the leadership.

Comparison with similar cases

Richarlison is not the first case of a failed expensive transfer in the Premier League. Let's review some similar cases to understand the scale of this issue.

Philippe Coutinho moved from Liverpool to Barcelona for £142 million and was later loaned multiple times before returning to Aston Villa.

Antoine Griezmann moved from Atlético Madrid to Barcelona for £107 million but never truly integrated and eventually returned to Atlético for just £20 million.

Harry Maguire was purchased by Manchester United for £80 million and is still trying to prove his value, but at that price, expectations are extremely high.

However, the key difference here is that these players are still registered and have opportunities to play, while Richarlison has been completely excluded from the squad. This shows the severity of the situation at Tottenham.

Future prospects for Richarlison

Despite being excluded from Tottenham's squad, Richarlison still has many years of football ahead. At 27, he is still in his prime and can certainly rediscover his form in a more suitable environment.

If he moves to Saudi Arabia, Richarlison will play in a rapidly developing league with strong state-backed investment. However, he will face the reality that this league has a lower competitive level than the Premier League, and playing there could affect his chances of being called up to the Brazilian national team.

If he moves to Turkey, Richarlison will play in a more competitive league closer to Europe. Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, or Beşiktaş are all major clubs with history and tradition, which could give him opportunities to compete in European competitions through Champions League or Europa League qualifiers.

Another option is returning to Brazil, where he could join major clubs like Palmeiras, Flamengo, or Corinthians. However, this seems unlikely as he is still playing at a high level and has not reached the point where his effectiveness has diminished.

Conclusion: One chapter ends, another begins

Tottenham's exclusion of Richarlison from the Premier League squad marks the end of an expensive but unsuccessful experiment. £60 million was spent, millions in wages were paid, and in the end, the club had to acknowledge that this transfer did not meet expectations.

For Tottenham, this is a reminder of the importance of building a squad around a stable tactical philosophy and recruiting players who fit that philosophy. Continuously changing direction and removing unsuitable players is not only costly but also affects the club's stability.

For Richarlison, this is an opportunity to start over. He still has many years ahead and can certainly rediscover his form in a more suitable environment. What matters is that he makes the right decision about his next destination, based on playing opportunities and development prospects, rather than just wages.

Tottenham's next match will take place with a streamlined attack and under the leadership of a manager with a clear philosophy. Can De Zerbi transform Tottenham into a perfectly ball-controlling team as he did with Brighton? Can the current players adapt to the new system? The answers will come in the coming months.

As for Richarlison, he will have to wait. Wait for a call from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, or any league willing to open its doors to him. In football, there is no path that truly ends. There are only doors that close and new doors that open. And for a talented player like Richarlison, there is always a new door waiting.

Additional information:

• Initial transfer fee: £50 million + £10 million in add-ons
• Remaining contract term: 2.5 years
• Estimated weekly wage: £200,000
• Appearances for Tottenham: 66 matches, 11 goals
• Record for Brazil national team: 17 goals in 55 appearances