De Zerbi’s First Look at New Tottenham Squad

Tottenham’s £200m rebuild steps out of the shadows tonight, with Roberto De Zerbi getting his first live look at his new squad as Spurs face MK Dons in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Hotspur Way.

It is only pre-season. It is only MK Dons. But for a club that has torn up and rewritten so much of its squad in one summer, this is the first glimpse of what comes next.

De Zerbi’s first look at the new Tottenham

Two weeks of drills, meetings and ideas at Hotspur Way now move onto grass that actually matters to the head coach. De Zerbi finally gets a game situation to test his players, his structure and his principles ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Tottenham have thrown more than £200million at this window, six signings through the door and a clear intention to reshape the spine of the team. Tonight, some of that investment is due its first airing.

Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali are both in line to feature in some capacity against MK Dons. For many Spurs supporters, these are the names that change the conversation around what this team can be. For De Zerbi, they are pieces in a system that still needs to click.

Tonali’s involvement is likely to be carefully managed. Work permit delays meant he joined pre-season later than planned, and Spurs will not risk overloading him in the opening outing of the summer. A cameo rather than a command performance feels likely.

Martin Dubravka has also been part of the early sessions and offers experienced competition in goal, though this first friendly is more about legs than reputations.

World Cup absentees and a new face at left-back

Not everyone is ready to go. A cluster of Tottenham’s internationals are still on their post-World Cup breaks and will sit this one out.

• Pedro Porro, who started for Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final win over Argentina, will not be rushed back.
• The same goes for Cristian Romero and Marcos Senesi, both granted extended time off after going the distance in the tournament.
• Djed Spence, fresh from an impressive World Cup as England finished third, also remains absent and will not feature against MK Dons.

One high-profile arrival has already reported for duty. Scotland captain Andy Robertson spent Tuesday at Hotspur Way for his first day as a Spurs player after joining on a free transfer from Liverpool. The 30-year-old brings know-how, leadership and a winning pedigree to the left side, and his integration will be one of the more intriguing subplots of pre-season.

Walking wounded and long roads back

Behind the buzz of new signings sits a quieter story: the rehab group.

• Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert, both recovering from serious anterior cruciate ligament injuries, have been seen around the training ground but remain some distance from a competitive return.
• Mohammed Kudus is in a similar position. The forward is working through a separate rehabilitation plan as he recovers from a serious quad problem.
• Dejan Kulusevski’s situation is even more stark. The Swede did not play a single minute last season because of a persistent knee injury and continues to follow his own programme.

None of that will affect tonight’s selection. All four are out of contention and will watch their team-mates edge ahead in the fitness race.

Academy auditions and a manager taking notes

If the big-money arrivals set the tone of the window, the academy might yet define its legacy.

Mikey Moore has trained with the first team and could get minutes against MK Dons. After an eye-catching loan spell at Rangers, the forward is attracting serious attention and has become one of the most talked-about youngsters in the club’s system.

De Zerbi has not committed to whether Moore will be part of his senior plans this season. Tonight, though, offers a live examination: can he handle the pace, the decisions, the demands of a manager who expects bravery on the ball and aggression without it?

Jamie Donley is another who has caught the eye. The academy player has been involved with the first team over the last couple of weeks and is understood to have impressed De Zerbi with his attitude and quality. A run-out against MK Dons would be a reward, but also a challenge. Impress here, and the door to more minutes this summer stays wide open.

Heavy rotation and an early blueprint

This is pre-season in its purest form: fitness first, patterns second, results a distant third.

De Zerbi is expected to rotate heavily, spreading minutes across his squad to build sharpness and avoid early setbacks. The game will likely split into blocks of players rather than a settled XI, but that does not mean there is nothing to learn.

Standard Sport’s predicted lineup offers a hint at the possible starting shape: Kinsky in goal; Takai, Phillips, Davies and Udogie across the back; Fernandes and Tonali in midfield; Yang, Donley and Tel supporting Solanke up front.

On paper, it is a blend of youth, new arrivals and familiar figures. On the pitch, it is the first sketch of what De Zerbi wants this Tottenham to become.

Kick-off is at 5pm BST on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Hotspur Way. No fans, no cameras, no noise.

Just a new manager, a rebuilt squad and a private first step towards a season that will not stay quiet for long.