Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher makes a shocking return to the Premier League
Former Chelsea star player, Conor Gallagher is reportedly set to make a shocking return to the Premier League from Atletico Madrid.
Tottenham Hotspur have delivered the first major “shocker” of the January 2026 transfer window, reportedly reaching a total agreement with Atletico Madrid for the signature of Conor Gallagher.
In a dramatic 24-hour turnaround, Spurs hijacked a nearly-completed move to Aston Villa, submitting a superior €40 million (£34.6m) permanent offer that convinced the Spanish giants to pivot.
The urgency in North London comes following devastating news regarding Rodrigo Bentancur. The Uruguayan midfielder is set to undergo surgery on a serious hamstring injury sustained in last week’s defeat to Bournemouth and is expected to be sidelined for at least three months.
Faced with a mounting injury crisis that includes Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison, Spurs boss Thomas Frank made it clear to the board that a “Premier League-ready” engine was non-negotiable.
While Unai Emery and Aston Villa had been in “advanced talks” for over a week, Gallagher’s desire to return to London played a pivotal role.
The 25-year-old former Chelsea captain has struggled for consistent starts under Diego Simeone this season, managing only four La Liga starts.
With Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup looming this summer, Gallagher sees the move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as his best chance to reclaim a starting spot in the national team
