Radu Dragusin looking on while featuring for Tottenham in a game

Tottenham defender Radu DragusinImago

Three winners from Radu Dragusin's exit from Tottenham examined after transfer latest

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Published on:

07 Jul 2026, 11:52 am

Radu Dragusin's time at Tottenham Hotspur has now officially come to an end.

Signed from Genoa in the 2024 winter transfer window, Dragusin's spell in north London was hugely underwhelming.

Admittedly, an ACL injury sustained in January 2025 did hinder his progress, but when he was available, he never truly convinced he could play a part.

His uninspiring stint is seemingly coming an end, with the Romania defender set to return back to Italy with Fiorentina.

Fiorentina have now confirmed his arrival, and Gianluca Di Marzio reports for Sky Sports that he will join La Viola on an initial loan deal that will turn into a £21.4m transfer if he hits a certain amount of games, while Spurs will retain a 10 per cent sell-on clause.

Here are three potential winners from Dragusin's move to Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Luka Vuskovic

Luka Vuskovic has been a bit of a funny tale as regards his Tottenham story.

Signed as a prodigious teenager, he could not officially join until he was 18 last year, and was shipped out on loan to Hamburg in Germany after it became apparent he wanted regular game time.

Dragusin's exit may have once opened up doors to first-team opportunities, but the arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi means those avenues would not likely have been readily available.

But, with Spurs having spent big money to land Van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali, they will likely want to recoup some cash.

With Dragusin's exit being sanctioned, Vuskovic, now 19, will likely get his wish of a move to Premier League rivals Brighton.

The Seagulls last week agreed a deal that could eventually reach £50m with add-ons, and you get the sense that Spurs may now exacerbate some sales following their huge outlays.

What Radu Dragusin's exit means for Tottenham as medical booked

Ashley Phillips

Much like Vuskovic, Ashley Phillips was signed by Tottenham as a future prospect.

Spurs activated his £2m release clause with Blackburn Rovers back in 2023, and since then he has been shipped out on loan to Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City.

Tottenham do have a wealth of options at centre-back right now, but the exit of Dragusin and impending departure of Vuskovic may present opportunities.

With two centre-backs already leaving, and uncertainty over the likes of captain Cristian Romero, Phillips may just have found himself massively bumped up the pecking order at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham and Fiorentina themselves

This one may seem a little bit "well, duh", but you have to give Tottenham credit for the make-up of the deal.

If he does hit the required number of games to seal a full transfer, Tottenham will make a tidy sum on his sale.

But they have also been clever with the future sell-on fee, because if he does well back in Italy and gets another movel later down the line, then they should bank a decent sum at that point.

For Fiorentina, they will have massively strengthened their backline if he performs well, and the deal is structured in a way that suits them too.

Basically, the deal represents a smart move for all parties, including Dragusin himself.

Cristian Gabriel Romero