Tottenham's Summer Changes: Maddison's Farewell to Solomon
Tottenham’s summer of upheaval has claimed another familiar face – and James Maddison has made sure the goodbye doesn’t pass quietly.
De Zerbi’s clear-out gathers pace
Roberto De Zerbi has not tiptoed into life at Tottenham. He has ripped into the squad with intent.
Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson have all arrived, reshaping the spine and the edges of this team in a matter of weeks. Results in pre-season have backed up the boldness: Spurs are unbeaten, the mood is buoyant, and the fanbase can feel something building.
But there’s a catch. No European football means no need – and no room – for an oversized squad.
Will Lankshear, Luka Vuskovic and Radu Dragusin have already gone. The message is blunt: if you’re not central to De Zerbi’s plans for the Premier League grind, you’re expendable. The opener against Brentford on 22 August looms, yet the exits keep coming.
Maddison’s message as Solomon departs
The latest to walk through the door marked “out” is Manor Solomon, who has joined Championship side West Ham United on a permanent deal, three years after first landing in North London.
On paper, his Tottenham career barely registers: just six senior appearances. On the training pitch and in the dressing room, it was clearly a different story.
Maddison underlined that on 10 August, posting a heartfelt note on his Instagram stories as Solomon’s move was confirmed.
“Wish you the best of luck, mate! One of the nicest chaps I've ever come across, and helluva player as well! SSG King!” he wrote.
For a player who never truly got going in a Spurs shirt, the affection is telling. Solomon’s best work since signing for the club came away from it, during a sparkling loan spell at Leeds United in the 2024-25 season. Ten goals and 13 assists in 41 games in the Championship reminded everyone why he had been so highly rated.
Now he returns to that division with West Ham, carrying both momentum and expectation. The Israeli international leaves Tottenham with only a handful of appearances, but with respect intact and well-earned.
Creativity crisis as opener nears
While one creative player departs, another remains stuck in limbo.
Maddison, who battled back to feature late in the 2025-26 campaign, has been conspicuous by his absence during pre-season. De Zerbi has confirmed a minor setback and has refused to risk the 29-year-old on the club’s summer tour.
It is a cautious call, but a costly one.
Spurs face Brentford with Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus all still sidelined. That is a brutal list of missing ingenuity for a side that wants to dominate the ball and carve teams open.
Tonali and Fernandes can both hurt opponents from midfield and carry a goal threat of their own, which offers some reassurance. They can shoot, they can surge, they can change games from deep.
Yet Tottenham did not sign Maddison to watch from the stands. In a squad being aggressively reshaped and trimmed, he remains one of the Premier League’s most influential playmakers – the man who knits attacks together and dictates tempo.
The season will start without Manor Solomon. It may start without James Maddison too. How long Spurs can afford that second absence is the real question hanging over De Zerbi’s new era.
