Tottenham Hotspur have secured the signing of Argentine centre-back Marcos Senesi on a free transfer, with the defender set to join the club on July 1 after his contract with Bournemouth expires. The 29-year-old has agreed to a long-term deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, becoming the club's second summer acquisition following the imminent arrival of Andy Robertson from Liverpool.
Squad Number and Start Date
Senesi has been assigned the No5 shirt, which had been vacant since Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's permanent move to Marseille last year. The number was previously worn by Jan Vertonghen and other notable Spurs defenders. He will officially begin his tenure with the club on July 1, after his Bournemouth contract concludes.
Player's Reaction
Expressing his excitement, Senesi told Tottenham's official website: "It's a very special feeling to be a Tottenham Hotspur player. From the first moment, the club has shown why they want me and how much they want me to be a part of what they are building. It's exciting and something I can't wait to be involved in." He added: "Every time I step on the pitch, I will do my best to make the fans proud and to take the club back to the place it belongs. I want to win things with Tottenham and will do everything I can to make that happen."
Background and Career
Senesi joined Bournemouth from Dutch giants Feyenoord in 2022, making 128 appearances across all competitions. He was instrumental in Bournemouth's sixth-place Premier League finish this season, securing Europa League qualification under manager Andoni Iraola, who has since moved to Liverpool. Despite multiple contract offers from Bournemouth, Senesi opted to leave, with Chelsea and Liverpool among the clubs linked before Tottenham acted swiftly to avoid a repeat of their recent relegation scare.
Tottenham are also pursuing Manchester City winger Savinho and Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Senesi has three senior international caps for Argentina but was not selected for this summer's World Cup. His arrival adds to uncertainty over the future of compatriot and captain Cristian Romero at Spurs.
Manager and Sporting Director Comments
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi praised Senesi: "Marcos' experience, quality on the ball, and competitive edge will strengthen us defensively, as well as giving us flexibility in formation. He's comfortable playing in a possession-based team, reads the game very well and has the personality to thrive in a demanding environment. I also love his mentality and desire to keep improving."
Sporting director Johan Lange added: "Marcos is a defender who brings a combination of quality, intelligence and leadership to our squad. His experience at the highest level, his composure in possession and his desire to compete for every ball make him an excellent fit for the way we want to play. We are delighted to welcome him to the club and believe this is the perfect place for him as he enters a great stage in his career."
