Tottenham sign ex-Fulham star who wants to play for Nigeria

Tosin Adarabioyo has completed his move from Chelsea to Tottenham Hotspur after the two London clubs reached an agreement on transfer deadline day, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 28-year-old centre-back joined Spurs permanently on September 1, with the initial fee reported at about £7 million, plus add-ons that could take the deal closer to £10 million. Chelsea later confirmed that Adarabioyo had completed the transfer after two seasons at Stamford Bridge.

The move gives Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi another experienced central defender after Kevin Danso left for Sunderland. Adarabioyo arrives with strong Premier League experience and a background at Fulham, where he established himself as a regular top-flight defender before earning a move to Chelsea.

The deal also has extra history. It is the first permanent senior-player transfer directly between Chelsea and Tottenham since Carlo Cudicini moved from Stamford Bridge to Spurs in 2009. Tottenham also completed a separate deadline-day deal for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who joined on loan.

Adarabioyo’s Chelsea spell brought two major trophies. He was part of the team that won the UEFA Conference League in 2025 and the FIFA Club World Cup later that year. Across his two seasons, he made 70 appearances and scored seven goals.

Adarabioyo joined Chelsea from Fulham on a free transfer in July 2024 after four seasons at Craven Cottage. He had already built a strong reputation in English football after coming through Manchester City’s academy and gaining experience on loan at West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers.

His first Chelsea season gave him a clear role in the squad. He made 35 appearances in all competitions and featured regularly in the UEFA Conference League. His first Chelsea goal came in the 8-0 win over FC Noah.

His second season was more difficult. Competition for places in central defence increased, and Adarabioyo made 29 appearances, with only eight of his 16 Premier League appearances coming as starts. His decision to leave was therefore also about finding a club where he could play more regularly.

Tottenham’s need for a defender made the move possible. Danso’s departure created another opening in the squad, while Spurs were also dealing with changes in their defensive group. De Zerbi now has a player who knows the Premier League, has played in European competition and has experience of winning major trophies.

There is also a strong Nigeria connection to Adarabioyo’s next chapter.

Born in London to Nigerian parents, he played for England at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 levels. However, he never made a senior appearance for England, leaving him eligible to represent Nigeria.

Adarabioyo has previously rejected claims that he turned down Nigeria. After Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Real Betis in the 2025 Conference League final, he said he had never rejected the Super Eagles and explained that his focus had been on establishing himself at Fulham and then Chelsea. He also said he knew he needed to make a decision about his international future.

Reports in March said he had agreed to represent Nigeria, while other reports later questioned whether the switch had been formally completed. What is clear is that Adarabioyo has spoken positively about playing for the Super Eagles and has never been capped by England’s senior team.