Tottenham have left Richarlison out of their Premier League squad for the current campaign, with manager Roberto De Zerbi citing the Brazilian forward's repeated requests to leave the club during the summer window.
The decision was confirmed on Thursday evening and was communicated to the 29-year-old before Tuesday's Premier League transfer deadline, giving him the chance to find a new club once Tottenham received a suitable offer. Richarlison arrived from Everton in 2022 for £60million and scored 11 Premier League goals last season, his joint-best league return since joining the club.
De Zerbi spoke publicly about the situation after omitting Richarlison from the matchday squad for Saturday's defeat to Newcastle United. "Richarlison, I don't know. He said too many times he wants to leave," De Zerbi said after that game.
A return to Everton appeared to be taking shape in the final days of the window, with Tottenham having agreed a £35million fee. However, personal terms between Richarlison and Everton could not be reached. A linked move that would have brought Iliman Ndiaye to north London also fell apart, with Ndiaye subsequently signing for Manchester City instead.
Richarlison took to Instagram to address his situation directly. "I've always made it clear, every time I had the chance, that leaving for another club would only happen if it was also good for the club. If it wasn't, I would never accept it. Just like I didn't accept it when everything was going badly and they needed me," he said. "I stayed and gave everything. So, I hope they treat my situation with the same respect I've always shown Spurs and everyone who worked with me during this period. Just don't try to decide for me."
Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor have been linked with a move for the forward, having already seen bids of £15million and £20million turned away by Tottenham. The player has been reported to have agreed personal terms with the club, and Turkey's transfer window remains open until Friday, 4 September. The Saudi Pro League is a further potential destination, with its window open until 12 October.
Richarlison is in the final ten months of his contract, though Tottenham hold an option to extend it by a further year. His omission from the squad list means he cannot feature in Premier League matches during the first half of the season unless a transfer is concluded.
The forward's exit from the plans follows a significant summer of recruitment. Tottenham broke the £100million barrier to bring in Sandro Tonali and spent further large sums on Sávio and Mateus Fernandes. Omar Marmoush joined on loan from Manchester City with an obligation to buy, while Mykhailo Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo both arrived from Chelsea on deadline day. The weight of those attacking additions left Richarlison with no clear route back into De Zerbi's first-team plans.
Dejan Kulusevski has been named in the squad after returning to full training, as have injured duo Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert, both of whom are rehabilitating anterior cruciate ligament injuries. New 22-year-old goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge takes the eighth and final homegrown spot following Dane Scarlett's permanent departure to Leyton Orient.
Reporting: Mirror, ESPN, CaughtOffside, The Sun, Football.London, Evening Standard.