Richarlison has been left out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad for the first half of the 2026/27 season, in a major indication that the Brazilian forward’s time in north London is approaching its final chapter after he was unable to secure a move away from the club before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

The decision follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding the 29-year-old’s future, with Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi previously confirming that the striker had made it clear that he wanted to leave. The forward had been strongly linked with a return to Everton before the deadline, but the proposed transfer ultimately failed to materialize, leaving him at Tottenham despite the club making it clear that he no longer forms part of their plans.

Richarlison is now facing an increasingly uncertain period at Spurs, although his omission does not necessarily mean that he will remain without a route out of the club. Transfer windows in Turkey and Saudi Arabia are still open, creating potential destinations for the Brazilian as Tottenham continue to look for a solution to his situation.

Why Richarlison is Left out of Tottenham’s Premier League Squad

The decision to exclude Richarlison from the Premier League squad appears to be the latest consequence of a breakdown between the player and club over his future. It is understood that Tottenham informed him before the transfer deadline that he was not part of De Zerbi’s plans for the campaign, meaning his omission from the squad is unlikely to have come as a surprise.

The situation has developed rapidly since the beginning of the season. Richarlison started Tottenham’s opening Premier League fixture against Brentford, but he was subsequently dropped from the squad for the 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United, with De Zerbi openly discussing the player’s desire to leave after the match.

“Richarlison, I don’t know. He said too many times he wants to leave,” the Spurs manager said, underlining the extent of the uncertainty surrounding the forward.

Those comments came after De Zerbi had previously suggested that Tottenham would have difficulty replacing the Brazilian, acknowledging earlier in August that it was “not easy to find another striker like Richarlison”. The club nevertheless moved to strengthen its attacking options by bringing in Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush on loan, with the Egyptian subsequently taking Richarlison’s place against Newcastle.

Richarlison’s Tottenham career reaches a crossroads

Richarlison joined Tottenham from Everton in the summer of 2022, arriving after four seasons at Goodison Park in which he established himself as one of the Premier League’s most recognisable forwards. Before that, he had spent time at Watford, meaning his career in England has been built almost entirely around Premier League football.

His Tottenham spell, however, has been disrupted by injuries and inconsistent availability, preventing him from establishing himself as an undisputed first-choice attacker despite producing important moments for the club.

Last season was arguably one of his more significant campaigns in a Tottenham shirt, as Richarlison finished as the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer with 11 goals in 32 appearances. He also registered four assists, making a valuable contribution during Tottenham’s difficult battle for survival.

That contribution makes his current situation particularly striking, because a player who was so important to Tottenham’s fight to remain in the Premier League is now effectively outside the manager’s plans only months later.

What happens next for Richarlison?

The immediate question is where Richarlison will play his football during the remainder of the season, with his Premier League exclusion making a departure increasingly likely. His contract with Tottenham has entered its final year, which gives the club another reason to consider selling him rather than allowing the situation to continue until he becomes a free agent.

Everton appeared to provide the most obvious solution before the deadline, given Richarlison’s history with the Merseyside club and his established relationship with supporters, but negotiations failed to produce an agreement in time. His next opportunity could therefore come from outside England, with clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia still able to conduct transfers after the Premier League window has closed.

For Tottenham, moving Richarlison on would also provide an opportunity to reshape an attacking department that has already undergone significant changes. Marmoush’s arrival has added another option, while De Zerbi will now be expected to build his forward line around players who are committed to his project.

A difficult ending to a promising Spurs spell

Richarlison’s omission from Tottenham’s Premier League squad represents a disappointing development for a player who arrived in 2022 with considerable expectations and the reputation of being one of the Premier League’s most dangerous forwards.

Although his Tottenham career has never reached the heights many anticipated, his 11-goal league campaign last season demonstrated that he remains capable of making a significant contribution when fit and trusted. His current situation, however, suggests that the relationship between player and club has reached a point where separation may now be the best outcome for all parties.

With Tottenham making their position clear and Richarlison having repeatedly expressed his desire to leave, attention will now turn to the remaining transfer markets. The coming days could determine the next chapter of his career, with Turkey and Saudi Arabia potentially offering an escape route from a Tottenham spell that increasingly appears to be nearing its conclusion.