Radu Dragusin joins Fiorentina on loan with €17.5m obligation to buy

Overview

Tottenham Hotspur's 24-year-old defender Radu Dragusin has joined Fiorentina on a season-long loan, with the Serie A club holding a conditional €17.5 million obligation to make the move permanent at the end of the 2026/27 season.

Tottenham's Summer Transfer Activity

Tottenham have been highly active in the transfer market under manager Roberto De Zerbi, having already signed six players and spent close to £240 million. The club is expected to further strengthen its forward line before the September 1 deadline.

De Zerbi has also begun offloading players deemed surplus to requirements. Spurs have already raised approximately £46 million from the sale of Luka Vuskovic to Brighton and Hove Albion earlier this week, while Radu Dragusin and Alfie Devine have also departed.

Dragusin's Move to Fiorentina

The writing was on the wall for the Romanian international at Tottenham following the arrivals of defenders Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke. Sensing limited opportunities in the upcoming season, Dragusin pushed for a move to Fiorentina.

The 24-year-old struggled for regular game time after recovering from an ACL injury last season, making just ten Premier League appearances and playing only 515 minutes for Spurs.

Why Dragusin Chose Fiorentina

Dragusin revealed that talks over his move began this summer after a phone call from former Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici, with whom he shares a strong relationship. The defender admitted that Paratici's presence at Fiorentina had a "huge impact" on his decision.

Speaking in a press conference (via Tutto Mercato Web), Dragusin said:

"This summer's negotiations started with a call from Paratici, whom I know very well, and vice versa. The fact that he was here had a huge impact. I chose Fiorentina because they have a growth plan.

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"The fact that I've come here means that Fiorentina is all that matters. I want to stay here to achieve great things and repay the club's faith in me."

Dragusin also thanked Tottenham for his development:

"I want to thank Tottenham, which helped me grow as a man and a footballer. There, I saw a different world from the Italian one, and they helped me win the Europa League."

Analysis: A Smart Career Move

Dragusin was close to joining Fiorentina in the January transfer window, but an injury crisis at Tottenham prevented the move. Six months later, he has secured the transfer he sought.

The Romanian endured a difficult 2025, suffering an ACL rupture in January 2025 that kept him sidelined for more than ten months. He was unable to break into the first team under three different managers last season, and with De Zerbi recruiting Senesi and Van Hecke, his future at Spurs was effectively sealed.

By trusting Paratici and committing to Fiorentina's project in Serie A, Dragusin has made a calculated decision to revive his career.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back.