New Tottenham signing Andy Robertson may have shared the pitch with stars like Mo Salah, Sadio Mané, and Roberto Firmino, but he’s admitted to being left star‑struck by one Tottenham star’s five‑a‑side brilliance in training since his summer arrival.
Tottenham Hotspur’s 2026 summer transfer business marked a clear shift in strategy for the Lilywhites, who opted to bring in experienced players rather than focusing solely on youngsters.
That approach saw Spurs secure the signings of players already proven in the Premier League, with not a single addition arriving from outside England’s top flight.
The average age of players signed in the recently concluded summer transfer window stands at 27.3 – four years older than the 2025 summer intake, which had an average age of 23.0.
| Season | Player | Age | Position | Transfer Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Xavi Simons | 22 | Attacking Midfield | £55.7m |
| Mohammed Kudus | 24 | Right Wing | £54.7m | |
| Conor Gallagher | 25 | Central Midfield | £34.3m | |
| Mathys Tel | 20 | Left Wing | £30.0m | |
| Kevin Danso | 26 | Centre-Back | £21.4m | |
| Souza | 19 | Left-Back | £12.9m | |
| Luka Vušković | 18 | Centre-Back | £9.4m | |
| Kota Takai | 20 | Centre-Back | £5.0m | |
| João Palhinha | 30 | Defensive Midfield | £4.3m loan | |
| Randal Kolo Muani | 26 | Centre-Forward | Loan | |
| 2025/26 Total / Average | 10 signings | 23.0 yrs | £227.7m | |
| 2026/27 | Sandro Tonali | 26 | Defensive Midfield | £100.0m |
| Mateus Fernandes | 21 | Central Midfield | £85.0m | |
| Sávio | 22 | Left Wing | £85.0m | |
| Jan Paul van Hecke | 26 | Centre-Back | £52.0m | |
| Tosin Adarabioyo | 28 | Centre-Back | £12.0m | |
| Marcos Senesi | 29 | Centre-Back | Free | |
| Andrew Robertson | 32 | Left-Back | Free | |
| Martin Dúbravka | 37 | Goalkeeper | Free | |
| Omar Marmoush | 27 | Centre-Forward | £60m | |
| Mykhailo Mudryk | 25 | Left Wing | Loan | |
| 2026/27 Total / Average | 10 signings | 27.3 yrs | £394.0m |
Andy Robertson names James Maddison as the Tottenham player he has been most impressed by
So far, many of Tottenham’s new signings have settled quickly, with every player brought in having made at least one appearance in Lilywhite.
This includes Andy Robertson, one of the most experienced additions, not just in age but also in terms of his standing in the game.
Robertson has won it all in club football, including the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his spell at Liverpool.
The full-back has also shared dressing rooms with some of the best players in the world, but he admitted he was left star-struck by James Maddison in training, particularly in five-a-side games.
Speaking on The Overlap panel when asked which player had impressed him most at Spurs, Robertson said: “Madders – five-a-side player.”
Asked if Maddison was that good, Robertson replied: “Yeah, quality.”
Roy Keane, known for his criticism of Maddison, then chipped in: “It’s 11 v 11 he struggles.”
Spurs missing James Maddison’s creativity
Tottenham have certainly missed Maddison in recent seasons, with the midfielder struggling to stay fit.
His absence has left Spurs short of creativity in midfield, with the team managing just seven successful through balls across the entire 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Maddison possesses a unique quality that no one else in the Spurs squad can replicate, and one that Tottenham have yet to replace.
As a result, Spurs have had to rely on their wide areas for creativity, with Savio, Mathys Tel and the full-backs often tasked with creating chances.
So far, that has not brought success, with Tottenham scoring just two goals in five games this season.
Maddison has yet to start a match for Spurs due to fitness struggles, but he could be in contention when Tottenham next take to the pitch in the Premier League against Manchester United, having used the three-week international break to build up his fitness.