Tottenham's Summer Plans Take Shape Amid Player Absences
Tottenham Hotspur aren't sitting still this summer. The club has rolled out its official pre-season tour squad, confirming both the stars making the trip and a group of important faces stuck at home nursing injuries. It's a mix of anticipation and frustration for Spurs fans dying to see their favorites in action but left wondering what the absence of players like Destiny Udogie or Dejan Kulusevski might mean as the new season creeps closer.
This summer, Spurs are heading to Asia for a high-profile showdown against Arsenal in Hong Kong on July 31—marking the first North London derby ever played in this region. The club is also slated to clash with Newcastle United in South Korea as part of the Coupang Play Series 2025, before hopping over to Germany for a Telekom Cup encounter with Bayern Munich. To get their legs moving before hopping on the plane, Tottenham squeezed in two warm-up games: a workmanlike 2-0 win over Reading and a 2-2 scramble with Wycombe Wanderers in a closed-door fixture.
But not everyone’s packing their bags. Destiny Udogie, Kota Takai, Manor Solomon, Radu Drăgușin, Dejan Kulusevski, and Bryan Gil are sticking around at Hotspur Way to get their injuries sorted. The club wants them match-ready for the start of the season and not risking setbacks on the road. Given their potential impact, every day counts with the medical team back home.
More Than Just Matches: Community Connections and Squad Variety
The pre-season isn’t all about goals and training drills. Spurs are scheduling plenty of off-pitch activities, teaming up with their global partner AIA to run health initiatives and offer coaching sessions for young local players wherever they land. These efforts aren’t just PR—they’re part of the club’s long-term effort to build its following and give something back in the communities hosting them.
As for the squad heading out, it's a blend of established stars and players with a point to prove. Goalkeepers Guglielmo Vicario, Antonín Kinský, and Brandon Austin all make the trip, covering Spurs’ bases at the back, while versatile defenders like Kevin Danso are among the outfield players offering fresh options. Radu Drăgușin, listed as an absentee, underlines the team’s depth concerns with several projects and established first-teamers unavailable for these key tune-up fixtures.
Fans eager for a tangible piece of this tour can get involved too. The club’s running a competition offering a signed 2025/26 home shirt—one small way Tottenham is keeping their followers worldwide plugged into their pre-season excitement.