Tottenham omit Richarlison from 25-man list after explosive future statement

The decision comes after a tense few days around the Brazilian forward, whose future has become increasingly unclear following Tottenham’s 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle last Saturday.

Roberto De Zerbi did not exactly hide the situation afterwards. The Spurs manager said Richarlison had “said too many times that he wants to leave”, suggesting the relationship has reached a point where a departure now feels more likely than a repair.

Richarlison then made things even louder on Monday. 

In a striking Instagram post, the 29-year-old insisted that no one would decide his future for him again.

“After everything I have been through in recent years, I have decided that nobody will ever decide my future for me again,” he wrote. “I have gone through a lot of bad things, and most of them happened because of other people’s decisions. Pressure, threats, revenge, none of that scares me. Believe me, I have been through much worse.”

He also made it clear that he would only leave Spurs if any move suited the club as well as himself.

“I have always made it clear, whenever I had the chance, that leaving for another club would only happen if it was also good for the club. Otherwise, I would never accept it.”

Richarlison added that he had stayed and given everything when Spurs needed him, and asked for the same respect in return.

“So I hope they treat my situation with the respect I have always shown Spurs and everyone I have worked with during this time. Just do not try to decide for me.”

A return to Everton had been discussed before Tuesday’s English transfer deadline, but talks stalled. The former Everton forward spent 4 years at Goodison Park between 2018 and 2022, so it would have been an obvious route back, but that opportunity has gone cold for now.

Other transfer markets remain open, and Trabzonspor are reportedly interested before the Turkish deadline on Friday. If a deal can be found, that could give all sides a way out of an increasingly uncomfortable situation.

Richarlison has struggled to fully establish himself at Tottenham since arriving in north London 4 years ago. He did score 12 goals in the 2025-26 season, when Spurs narrowly avoided Premier League relegation, but he has never quite become the central figure the club hoped for.

The wider context makes it more difficult too. Richarlison has spoken openly in the past about mental-health struggles, which makes the tone and handling of this situation matter beyond a normal transfer dispute.

For now, the message from Spurs is hard to miss: he is outside the league squad, and the club are preparing for life without him.