De Zerbi’s First Look at Rebuilt Tottenham
Tottenham’s summer revolution steps out of the shadows on Wednesday evening, as Roberto De Zerbi gets his first live look at his new squad in a behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons at Hotspur Way.
No cameras. No crowd. But for a number of players, this will feel like an audition under floodlights.
De Zerbi’s first look at a rebuilt Spurs
Spurs have been grinding through two hard weeks of pre-season work at their training base, and this quiet run-out marks the first chance for De Zerbi to stitch the pieces together ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Those pieces are expensive. Tottenham have spent more than £200million on six new signings this summer, and two of them, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, are in line to feature in some capacity against MK Dons.
For Tonali, it may be a gentle introduction. The Italian midfielder joined pre-season late after work permit complications, so his minutes are expected to be carefully managed as the club build up his fitness.
Martin Dubravka, another of the new arrivals, has also been involved in training and could be used as De Zerbi experiments with his options, even if this first game is more about rhythm than statements.
World Cup absentees and a new face at left-back
If the new era is taking shape, it is not yet complete. Several of Tottenham’s World Cup contingent have not rejoined the squad following their summer exertions and are unavailable for the MK Dons clash.
Pedro Porro, who started for Spain in their 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final, will be given an extended break. So too Cristian Romero and Marcos Senesi, both coming off their own deep runs at the tournament.
Djed Spence, fresh from an impressive World Cup as England finished third, will also sit this one out as he rests and recovers.
One major arrival has, however, already walked through the doors at Hotspur Way. Scotland left-back Andy Robertson reported for his first day as a Spurs player on Tuesday, following his free transfer from Liverpool. He will not be rushed into this first friendly, but his mere presence underlines the scale of the club’s summer overhaul.
Injury comebacks on their own timelines
Around the main group, a separate story is unfolding: the long road back from injury for several key players.
Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert, both recovering from serious anterior cruciate ligament injuries, have been spotted at the training ground but remain some distance from a return to action. Their involvement at this stage is about controlled work, not match minutes.
Mohammed Kudus is in a similar position. The attacking midfielder is following a tailored rehabilitation programme as he continues to recover from a significant quad injury. His focus is on building strength, not facing MK Dons.
Dejan Kulusevski, who did not play a single minute last season because of a persistent knee problem, is also being handled with care. Spurs know that rushing any of these players would be a step backwards.
Youth on the brink
If the senior absentees thin the numbers, they also open a door. De Zerbi intends to use this game to look closely at some of Tottenham’s brightest young talents.
Mikey Moore has been training with the first team and could be handed minutes as the head coach weighs up whether the highly rated youngster is ready for a full-season role. Moore’s stock rose sharply after an eye-catching loan spell at Rangers, and Wednesday’s outing may help decide whether he stays in north London or heads out again for more regular football.
Academy forward Jamie Donley has also been with the senior group in recent weeks and is understood to have impressed De Zerbi on the training pitches. This type of controlled, low-profile friendly is exactly where a manager tests whether a promising academy player can carry that form into a more competitive setting.
Heavy rotation and an early glimpse
This is pre-season in its purest form. De Zerbi is expected to rotate heavily, sharing minutes across his squad as he builds fitness and begins to imprint his ideas.
The predicted XI for this first outing offers a hint of his early thinking: Kinsky; Takai, Phillips, Davies, Udogie; Fernandes, Tonali; Yang, Donley, Tel; Solanke.
It is not a definitive blueprint, just a snapshot of where Spurs stand on day one of their summer schedule. Veterans like Ben Davies anchor the back line, Destiny Udogie continues his development at left-back, while new signings and emerging talents are dropped into the mix.
Kick-off is set for 5pm BST on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Hotspur Way. No crowd will see it, no TV cameras will dissect it, but inside those closed gates, De Zerbi’s Tottenham will take their first real steps towards the season that will define whether this lavish rebuild truly changes the club’s direction.
