England's Conor Gallagher to Tottenham: Will It Help 2026 World Cup Chances?

Tottenham Hotspur has announced the signing of Atlético Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher, with the former Chelsea man signing a long-term contract with the club. 

Spurs saw off competition from Premier League rivals Aston Villa to secure the 25-year-old's signature, with his arrival a major boost for manager Thomas Frank especially after Rodrigo Bentancur was ruled out of action for three months through injury.

Gallagher signed for Atletico Madrid in 2024 after being forced out at Chelsea and made 50 appearances for the club during his first season in Spain, scoring four goals. However, his importance to manager Diego Simeone has diminished this term, with the England international only making four starts in La Liga during the first half of the 2025-26 campaign.

He will now get a fresh start at Tottenham, where he will hope to nail down a regular place in the starting XI and boost his chances of making England's squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking to the club's media channels, Gallagher said: "I'm so happy and excited to be here, taking the next step in my career at an amazing club. I wanted to be a Spurs player and thankfully the club felt the same. It was very easy, it happened very quickly and I'm ready to get on the pitch.

"I know how great the fans are, I’m really happy to be a part of it here and want to create special moments and memories together."

Head coach Frank added: "Conor is a top midfielder, who we have worked tirelessly to add to our squad. He is still young, so has plenty of room for improvement, but also has huge experience across the Premier League, La Liga and with the England national team.

"Conor has captained teams so will bring leadership, maturity, character and personality to