Tottenham's Pre-Season Tour: Expectations and Key Players

Tottenham touch down in the southern hemisphere this weekend with money spent, expectations raised and questions swirling, as Roberto De Zerbi’s first public outing in charge arrives at Eden Park.

On Sunday, Spurs face Auckland FC in the opening game of their pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, a step up in visibility from the behind-closed-doors run-out that brought a 1-0 win over MK Dons on Wednesday. This time, the cameras are on and the travelling support finally get a first real look at De Zerbi’s reshaped squad.

Big spend, bigger scrutiny

Tottenham have not crept into this new era quietly. More than £200million has already gone on six new signings, a statement of intent that jars with their recent reality: back-to-back 17th-place finishes in the Premier League.

The message from the boardroom is obvious. Survival is no longer enough.

Argentina centre-back Marcos Senesi, one of the headline arrivals, is the only new face not to make the 35-man travelling party. The rest of the summer intake is on the plane. Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka are all in New Zealand and in line to feature at some point during the tour.

De Zerbi will not be short of options. He will, however, be missing some big ones.

Key absentees and transfer shadows

Guglielmo Vicario stays at home with what the club have called a “minor knock”, while midfield pair Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur have been handed extended leave after their World Cup exertions. Those who went deep into the tournament – Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero and Djed Spence among them – have also not travelled.

Romero’s absence is more than just a rest note. Both he and Vicario sit under a cloud of speculation, heavily linked with moves away. Whether either has already played his last game in a Spurs shirt is unclear, but their non-involvement on tour will only fuel the noise.

Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert remain at Hotspur Way as they work back from long-term injuries. Four players who could define the attacking identity of De Zerbi’s Tottenham are instead confined to the treatment room, leaving the coach to improvise in the short term.

Stage cleared for the kids

Those gaps open doors. Luca Williams-Barnett seized his chance against MK Dons, catching the eye in the quiet of a training-ground friendly. Mikey Moore is another youngster tipped to benefit from the space in the squad.

Now the setting changes: from a private pitch in England to a packed Eden Park, where a record crowd is expected. The stakes remain low in terms of points, but not for players trying to convince a demanding new head coach.

De Zerbi is likely to continue with a split-squad approach, fielding one starting XI in the first half and another after the break. With a long tour and a heavy schedule ahead, this is about rhythm, roles and first impressions as much as it is about the scoreline.

Auckland’s test and the tour ahead

Auckland FC are no soft touch. They finished third in the A-League last season and will relish the chance to test themselves against Premier League opposition in their own backyard. For the home side, this is an occasion. For Spurs, it is an examination of how quickly De Zerbi’s ideas are taking root.

The predicted Tottenham XI reflects the blend of new investment and emerging talent: Kinsky; Takai, Van de Ven, Van Hecke, Udogie; Fernandes, Tonali; Yang, Moore, Tel; Solanke.

Kick-off comes at 4am BST on Sunday July 26, 2026, under the lights of Eden Park, Auckland. From there, the road bends to Australia, with Sydney FC and then London rivals Chelsea waiting.

By the time Spurs leave this tour behind, the picture around De Zerbi’s new-look side – and the futures of some of its biggest names – may look very different.