Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed his intention to include Swedish playmaker Dejan Kulusevski in the club’s official 25-man Premier League squad list following the close of the summer transfer window.
Premier League regulations mandate that all clubs register their official senior rosters shortly after the transfer window closes on Tuesday, September 1. Once submitted, those squad lists remain locked and cannot be altered until the conclusion of the January transfer window, forcing managers to make precise risk assessments on injured squad members.
This report draws on information published by ca.sports.yahoo.com and standard.co.uk.
Rehabilitation Progress and Squad Deadline Constraints
Kulusevski, 26, has been sidelined for over a year after sustaining a complex kneecap injury during a fixture against Crystal Palace in May 2025. Although the Swedish international has recently returned to individual pitch work and light drills, he has not yet resumed full team training and remains some distance from competitive match fitness.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Tottenham’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United, De Zerbi emphasized that Kulusevski’s daily progress and character warrant a reserved place in the senior squad.
“I hope, and I will be very, very happy to see Kulusevski inside [the squad list], and I want to put Kulusevski inside of the list because he is working very well, very hard,” De Zerbi told reporters. “If he feels good like now, he’s improving day by day. It’s great watching him during the season and also because he deserves it because he suffered too much for his career for his age, for his level of human. I’m not speaking of him as a player but as a human. He deserves to stay inside of the list.”
Diverging Timelines for Long-Term Absentees
De Zerbi’s decision on Kulusevski contrasts sharply with the strategy adopted for fellow long-term injury absentees Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons. Both players are recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgeries, and De Zerbi confirmed that neither will be registered for the autumn domestic campaign.
The Italian tactician clarified that Odobert is not expected to be available until February or March at the earliest, while Simons faces a prolonged recovery that could keep him out until April. Omission from the 25-man Premier League list allows Tottenham to free up valuable squad slots for active players during the first half of the season without risking slots on players unable to participate before early 2027.
“Odobert is injured for a long time. Before February, March, he is not available. Xavi Simons … before March, April, he’s not ready,” De Zerbi stated, explaining the pragmatic roster management required under league regulations.
Roster Reshaping and Midfield Options
The squad management updates come as Tottenham prepare to host Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon, seeking their first Premier League victory of the new campaign. Spurs suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brentford on the opening weekend before securing a 5-1 midweek victory over Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup.
De Zerbi’s selection options remain impacted by several short- and medium-term fitness concerns. In addition to Kulusevski, Simons, and Odobert, attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus remains sidelined with a thigh issue, while James Maddison is expected to miss several weeks due to a fractured shoulder. Midfielder Pape Sarr also remains a major doubt with a thigh strain.
To compensate for long-term absences, Tottenham invested heavily during the summer transfer window, securing Italian international midfielder Sandro Tonali in a package valued at £100 million. Addressing the significant financial outlay, De Zerbi pointed to competitive market dynamics within English football, noting that two other major Premier League clubs actively pursued Tonali before the player selected Spurs.
With loan signing Omar Marmoush joining from Manchester City and debutant Savio impressing during midweek action, De Zerbi must balance short-term squad rotation with strategic roster submissions as the September 1 deadline approaches.