Tottenham Hotspur are facing a major disruption to their transfer plans with the shock news that sporting director Fabio Paratici has reportedly agreed to leave the club.
Paratici's swift exit after recent return
According to reports emerging from Italy, the senior Spurs executive has agreed to become the new sporting chief at Serie A side Fiorentina. This potential departure comes just months after Paratici was reinstated to his role at Tottenham in October 2025, following the completion of a worldwide football ban.
The Italian had originally resigned from his post at Spurs in April 2023 after receiving a 30-month ban from FIFA. This sanction was related to financial irregularities during his previous tenure at Juventus. The Italian giants were found guilty of false accounting, which initially led to a 10-point deduction.
Paratici avoided a potential prison sentence by agreeing to a plea deal, which did not require an admission of guilt. After serving his suspension, Tottenham showed significant faith in him by welcoming him back as joint-sporting director alongside Johan Lange.
Fiorentina move gathers pace
Italian outlet Firenze Viola claims that Paratici has not only given his agreement to Fiorentina but is already actively working to assemble a backroom staff to join him in Florence. The report speculates that Leonardo Gabbanini and Lorenzo Giani are potential candidates to follow the current Spurs chief to the Serie A club.
This development starkly contrasts with Paratici's public statements upon his return to Tottenham just two months ago. In October, he said, "I'm delighted to be returning to a club that I love... I'm convinced that working in partnership with Johan we can build a special future for the club and our supporters."
Major implications for Spurs' January plans
The timing of this potential exit could hardly be worse for the North London club. The January transfer window is due to open in a matter of days, a period when Tottenham were expected to be active in the market, potentially making at least one high-value signing to bolster Ange Postecoglou's squad.
Losing a key architect of their recruitment strategy at such a critical juncture would be a significant blow. It throws the club's mid-season planning into uncertainty and represents a disappointing outcome after they stood by Paratici throughout his ban and subsequent reintegration.
If the reports are confirmed, Spurs will need to move quickly to stabilise their football operations ahead of a busy and important period in the season.
