Tottenham Hotspur could have a new captain for the 2026/27 season, but James Maddison may not be the only contender for the armband.
Spurs will enter the new 2026/27 campaign with a new captain once again, potentially making it their fourth different skipper in five seasons.
Hugo Lloris wore the armband in 2022/23 before Heung-min Son took over for the following two campaigns, with Cristian Romero replacing him last season.
Romero is now expected to leave North London in the coming weeks, with an agreement with Atletico Madrid reportedly ‘close’.
One Tottenham insider has recently claimed a club announcement is ‘imminent’, which could well refer to the captaincy decision with the Premier League season now less than 10 days away.
James Maddison, who has served as vice-captain for the last three seasons, appears the obvious candidate, although Spurs may have just hinted that the decision is not quite as straightforward.
Micky van de Ven emerges as James Maddison competition
Less than 48 hours ago, Tottenham announced that Micky van de Ven had signed a new contract until 2031, with an option for a further year.
Interestingly, the club’s statement also highlighted the leadership role the Dutchman took on towards the end of last season, stating: “Micky also showed leadership qualities when he captained the team in the final, crucial six matches of last season under Roberto De Zerbi“.
De Zerbi also made it clear how highly he rates the 24-year-old, saying: “Micky is one of the best centre-backs in Europe and an important player for us.
“He has the qualities, mentality and ambition that we want at Tottenham Hotspur, and I am very happy that he has decided to continue his journey with the Club.
“We are building something strong here, and players like Micky are an important part of that future. His decision to sign a new contract shows his belief in what we are creating together.”
Why James Maddison may not be the clear choice for Tottenham captain
James Maddison remains the obvious candidate for the armband given his status as vice-captain over the last three seasons, but his injury record could complicate the decision.
The England international has missed a total of 398 days during his three years in North London, with much of that absence coming last season after he suffered an ACL injury.
He has also missed all of Spurs’ pre-season fixtures so far, although Maddison recently confirmed that he is feeling good and back in training.
More tellingly, even when Maddison returned for late cameos towards the end of last season, he did not appear to take the armband from Van de Ven, who had already established himself as Romero’s deputy during the captain’s injuries and suspensions.
With Cristian Romero seemingly on his way out, it will become clear in the next few weeks who takes over the Tottenham captaincy.