De Zerbi signs for Spurs, gets a huge wage

It’s official—Roberto De Zerbi is the new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur. The Italian has signed a deal covering the final seven matches of the season plus five additional years, and he’s ready to roll up his sleeves and try to revive a team that’s on the brink of relegation from the Premier League. Tottenham sit just one point above the relegation zone and 18th-placed West Ham United. What’s particularly striking is that there is no relegation clause in De Zerbi’s contract. That detail could prove highly motivating—because if the worst happens, the 46-year-old would be expected to lead the team in the Championship. Clearly, that’s a scenario he’ll be desperate to avoid.

Initial talks between Tottenham and De Zerbi began about a month ago. The Italian originally preferred to take over at the end of the season, at the end of the 2025/26 season, but the situation in North London became too urgent. The club realized that Igor Tudor would not guarantee survival, forcing them to appoint a third manager this season. In the last 30 hours, Tottenham’s board launched an aggressive push to secure De Zerbi’s signature—and according to reports, he negotiated spectacular financial terms. Italian media claim he will earn around 12 million pounds per year, plus bonuses for signing and for keeping the club in the Premier League. For comparison, Thomas Frank reportedly earned around eight million, while Pep Guardiola leads the league with about 20 million pounds annually, followed by Mikel Arteta at around 15 million.

Relegation clause and five year deal - Spurs are luring De Zerbi

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, De Zerbi’s role won’t be limited to coaching—he’s expected to have expanded authority within the club, suggesting a full-scale rebuild is underway. Tottenham are clearly trying to reset their direction completely with an ambitious figure at the helm. De Zerbi returns to the Premier League after less than two years, having previously impressed with Brighton & Hove Albion. There’s also talk he could bring in Alessandro Nesta as an assistant—an intriguing move, given Nesta has been out of work since leaving Monza in 2025. Now comes the real challenge: survival first… and then rebuilding a fallen giant.