Fabrizio Romano transfer news: Signing Friday as Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Barca seal deals

Updated: 12 Sept 2026 06:44 BST | 8 min read

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Make us your Google favourite

Fabrizio Romano brings the latest transfer news, with Lucas Bergvall and Pedro Neto signing new contracts, Arsenal landing a Georgian wonderkid and Harry Kane continuing talks with Bayern.

Article continues under the video

Lucas Bergvall makes Tottenham U-turn with new contract

Romano admits he has been surprised by developments at Tottenham, with Bergvall closing in on a new deal.

“Lucas Bergvall has signed a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur. That's a very surprising one, probably. If you had asked me in June, I probably would not have predicted this,” he said on his YouTube channel.

“Why? Because Lucas Bergvall's initial idea was to leave Tottenham in this summer transfer window, and not because he's not happy at Tottenham. I'm also told that Lucas Bergvall is a big fan of how Roberto De Zerbi wants to play football, so the connection is very good with everyone.

“He just had a feeling that after signing Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, and with Tottenham having no European football, he was not going to play football, basically. So he wanted to go and play.

Current ETV

Lucas Bergvall

M (C)

Tottenham

Lucas Bergvall

M (C)

Tottenham

ETV Range

€37.4M - €45.7M

“He had several possibilities. One was from Nottingham Forest, another was from a club abroad. There were also some calls from Chelsea on Deadline Day to understand the situation of the player, although they never sent a bid. So there was a lot of interest around Lucas Bergvall.

“But the decision made by Tottenham Hotspur, in a very clear way with the player and his camp during the summer transfer window, was: despite this desire from Lucas, stay with us, continue with us. We will give you a contract, because we believe in you.

“Tottenham didn't want to lose the player. Now they have reached an agreement on a new contract, with an improved salary for Lucas Bergvall, who is going to be part of Tottenham's future.”

Pedro Neto commits his future to Chelsea until 2032

Similarly, Chelsea confirmed the signing of Pedro Neto to a new contract after significant summer transfer rumours.

Romano said: “It's a new deal for Pedro Neto and it's confirmed and signed today until June 2032. So it's a new long-term deal for the Portuguese winger. Now we can call him the Portuguese wing-back because Xabi Alonso believes in the player in this new position as well, and Pedro Neto is absolutely comfortable with that.

“It's a new contract in this case too, with an improved salary for Pedro Neto, who was one of the players already negotiating with Chelsea before the beginning of the summer transfer window. Then it didn't advance during the window because there were some movements around Pedro Neto.

“The reality is that Pedro Neto was on the list at Al-Hilal. He was one of three names. Al-Hilal then decided to go for Gabriel Martinelli, but Pedro Neto was on the list.

“He was also on the list at Tottenham. If they didn't get Savinho, there were possibilities at one point in the market for Savinho to receive another offer. In that case, Pedro Neto was going to be the option for Tottenham Hotspur.

“Pedro Neto was also on the list at Manchester City. City had several conversations with the agents of Pedro Neto, but then decided not to proceed.

“Why? Because Chelsea always asked for around £100 million for Pedro Neto, a very expensive transfer fee. So Chelsea didn't want to get rid of Pedro Neto. It was an important bid or nothing. Nothing happened.

“So now there is a new contract for the Portuguese winger.”

Arsenal win the race for Georgia's next big talent

Romano explained that Arsenal have signed an electric talent in the form of Andria Bartishvili, who will join them in 2027.

“To complete our London tour in terms of signings, there's Andria Bartishvili, this 17-year-old Georgian talent,” he said.

“In Georgia, those who follow football and know things in the industry say that they haven't seen another talent with this kind of quality and potential since Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Bartishvili is seen as a huge, huge talent.

“There were many proposals from other English clubs and from German clubs for Bartishvili. Arsenal won the race.

“The boy was in London last week to complete many tests and sign the contract. Today, there was the announcement: Bartishvili is a new Arsenal player. Everything confirmed. The 'here we go' from two weeks ago is now in place and confirmed.

“For Bartishvili, it's a big opportunity. A big opportunity because Arsenal are going to sign him for 2027, not for now, because the player has to turn 18 and then join Arsenal.

“But the boy believes that Arsenal are the right club for him as a winger, where he can develop, so there is big excitement at Arsenal. They believe they have signed a really talented boy.

“Obviously, English football is not Georgian football. Arsenal, with all due respect, are not a Georgian club. So the pressure is completely different. You will need to deliver at the highest level. But Arsenal are very happy with their signing.”

Barcelona raise Hamza's release clause to €150m

At Barcelona, meanwhile, a leading talent has committed his long-term future to the club.

“Hamza has signed a new contract at Barcelona. If you follow the channel, that's not news for you because I told you several times that Barca were in advanced negotiations with Hamza over a new deal.

“Why? Because the original contract - imagine that - Barca signed Hamza in January 2019. He was wanted by Deco and Joao Amaral, the head of scouting. Why did they sign Hamza? As an opportunity on the market, on loan with an option to buy for around €2.5m.

“They signed the player on a permanent deal in the summer, but in that contract there was a release clause worth €15m. So it was a kind of dangerous situation, especially given the pre-season made by Hamza. He was also part of the Egypt squad at the World Cup.

“So Barca didn't want to lose the player, as happened, for example, with a draw. Deco was able to reach an agreement with the agents of Hamza. New contract, everything done. 'Here we go', confirmed.

“Hamza has put pen to paper. Now the release clause will be €150m - one more zero.

“It's a new contract for Hamza and good luck to the boy, who is having an improved salary after nine months at the club. So Hamza has also signed a new contract at Barcelona.”

Man Utd have a gem in JJ Gabriel

“As we're talking about young talents, JJ Gabriel is probably the biggest topic at Manchester United right now in terms of talents - and not only now,” Romano continued.

“They have a gem in their hands. This boy had his debut in the Youth League this week. He delivered a hat-trick, becoming the youngest player ever at Manchester United to deliver a hat-trick on his debut and also to deliver a hat-trick in general in the Youth League.

“Imagine, he's 15 years old. Soon he will turn 16 and then, obviously, this is going to be an important moment to decide his future.

“It's going to be important also to see how Man United will manage JJ in terms of involving him in the first team in official games. That's going to be an important topic because everyone at Man United, when they speak about JJ Gabriel, are in total shock at how good this boy is.

“So obviously the pathway is going to be absolutely important in order to understand more about JJ.”

Why Barcelona chose Anthony Gordon over Marcus Rashford

Continuing of the theme of Manchester United, the Red Devils saw Marcus Rashford return from his loan at Barcelona after the Catalans elected not to take up a purchase option for him. Romano explained why:

“I want to clarify something on Marcus Rashford because Deco, Barcelona's director, said in a recent interview in the recent hours: 'We thank Marcus Rashford for the attitude last season, but we decided to go for Anthony Gordon for specific reasons.'

“Those reasons are the defensive work wanted by Hansi Flick. Hansi Flick personally respects Rashford and had a very good relationship with Rashford. He was very happy with Rashford in terms of attitude and performances, but he wants someone who can cover several positions up front, but also someone who can help a lot with defensive work.

“And that's why they decided to go for Anthony Gordon. So this is the reason why. It's a decision made by Hansi Flick.”

Compared

Anthony Gordon

F (CL), M (L)

Barcelona

Anthony Gordon

F (CL), M (L)

Barcelona

VS

Marcus Rashford

F, M (L)

Man Utd

Marcus Rashford

F, M (L)

Man Utd

€64.3M	ETV	€28.1M
€48.2M - €80.4M	ETV Range	€25.3M - €31M
25 years old (24 Feb, 2001)	Age	28 years old (31 Oct, 1997)
England	Nationality	England

Kane talks continue with Bayern

Harry Kane, the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, is in contract talks with Bayern Munich, but a deal is not thought to be close.

“Harry Kane keeps negotiating a new contract at Bayern,” Romano said. “He has confirmed that it's going to take some time. It's not imminent today or tomorrow, but the negotiations are going well.

“And I can confirm that for Bayern, this is an absolute priority. Bayern consider the new contract for Kane and then Michael Olise. But first, Harry Kane, the absolute priority.

“The conversations are taking place. I think it's going to take some time, but Bayern are on it. Bayern are prepared to offer Harry Kane something really important in terms of the contract. So this is going to be an important topic.”

Richarlison is not close to joining Vasco da Gama

At Tottenham, meanwhile, there is ongoing drama regarding the future of Richarlison, who wants to have his contract terminated by the club, allegedly to join Vasco da Gama.

Romano said: “Guys, at this stage, I'm not aware of anything close between Richarlison and Vasco da Gama.

“I know there were many questions. Richarlison was close to joining Trabzonspor, but Tottenham rejected all the proposals sent by Trabzonspor. Richarlison agreed terms with Trabzonspor, not with Vasco da Gama.

“Now we will see what happens with his future, because at the moment the relationship with Tottenham looks completely broken.”