Just over two and a half years after stepping down from the Sporting Director role, Fabio Paratici has returned to Tottenham Hotspur to once again oversee operations in North London.
The Italian previously spent two years in the role, before stepping down in April 2023, but looks set to pick up where he left off to help the club in their quest for Premier League glory.
However, this time around, he will be working alongside new boss Thomas Frank, with the Dane needing to strike up a key partnership with the 53-year-old to bring success to the club.
With the transfer window shut until January, the boss won’t get the opportunity to see the fruits of the Italian’s labour for a couple of months, but no doubt work will be ongoing behind the scenes.
Numerous players will likely be lined up by the duo to help strengthen the side after their impressive start to 2025/26, which has seen them lose just once in the first nine outings.
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Fabio Paratici’s key Spurs signings |
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|---|---|
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Player |
Fee |
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Richarlison |
£50m |
|
Cristian Romero |
£42m |
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Destiny Udogie |
£15m |
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Djed Spence |
£20m |
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Yves Bissouma |
£25m |
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Pape Sarr |
£18m |
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Dejan Kulusevski |
£25m |
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Rodrigo Bentancur |
£20m |
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Stats via Transfermarkt |
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However, this is the dream XI the Sporting Director could build for the Lilywhites over the next couple of months…
1
GK – Guglielmo Vicario
The Italian has been Spurs’ number one over the last couple of years, but not without questions from the fanbase over his ability in the role.
However, he’s managed to keep four clean sheets in 2025/26 to date, with faith needing to put in the 29-year-old to keep his number one shirt.
2
RB – Djed Spence
No Spurs fan would’ve anticipated the rise of the full-back in recent months, with the 25-year-old going from the brink of being sold to being a consistent England international.
His rise could see Pedro Porro tumble down the selection in the months ahead, potentially even being sold should Spence’s form continue.
3
CB – Micky van de Ven
The Dutch international is no ordinary defender, subsequently possessing a huge amount of pace that often gets the backline out of trouble.
His left-footed ability also makes him a rare commodity in the modern game, with the 24-year-old needing to be a regular starter for the foreseeable future.
4
CB- Cristian Romero
The second half of the Spurs centre-back partnership is Cristian Romero, with the duo being an unbreakable partnership – one that helped transform the defensive record this season.
The Argentine international has acquired the captain’s armband in recent weeks, further showcasing the trust shown in him by Frank.
5
LB – Destiny Udogie
Like many players last season, the Italian struggled massively with injuries last season which restricted him from making a huge impact in North London.
However, this season, he’s already featured in eight games across all competitions and has nailed his place down as the club’s first-choice left-back.
6
CDM – Joao Palhinha
The Portuguese international only joined the Lilywhites on loan this summer, but has already wasted no time in impressing – already netting two goals for the club.
His ball-winning ability is another huge positive, with Paratici needing to trigger the buy option in his temporary contract at the end of the campaign.
7
CM – Lucas Bergvall
In years to come, Swedish international Lucas Bergvall may become one of the club’s best-ever purchases after joining for just £8.5m from Djurgarden last summer.
Despite being 19, he’s already racked up over 50 appearances for the club, with the youngster demonstrating talents way beyond his tender years.
8
CM – Xavi Simons
The Dutch international was one of two £50m+ additions during the summer window, but has got off to a slow start in North London – only one assist in his first seven outings.
However, sympathy will need to be handed his way, with boss Frank needing to utilise the youngster in a more central role during his time in the Premier League.
9
RW – Mohammed Kudus
Mohammed Kudus has been a phenomenal addition for Spurs this summer, already hitting the ground running in 2025/26, with one goal and four assists in the league.
At just 25, he has bags of time to develop further, with the Ghanaian likely to play a key role in any future success during Frank’s tenure.
10
ST – Rodrigo Muniz
The centre-forward position has been a tricky one for Spurs since Harry Kane’s departure, but that could be solved with a move for Fulham star Rodrigo Muniz.
The Brazilian was hugely linked with a switch to join the Lilywhites this summer, but a move never materialised, with Paratici needing to revisit a deal in January.
