Tottenham Hotspur is poised for another significant departure from its executive ranks, with co-sporting director Fabio Paratici set to leave the club for Italian Serie A side Fiorentina at the conclusion of the January transfer window.
The impending move marks a swift and surprising end to Paratici’s second tenure at Spurs, which officially began only in October 2025.
According to reports, Paratici will remain in his post to oversee Tottenham’s winter transfer business before departing at the start of February. He is expected to take up a role heading football operations at Fiorentina, a club currently embroiled in a relegation battle, sitting 18th in Serie A with just two wins from twenty matches.
Italian media further reports indicate Paratici has already reached an agreement on a five-year contract with the Tuscan club and is working to terminate his deal with Tottenham.
The timing of the exit, driven in part by personal reasons, introduces fresh instability at a club that has undergone a year of profound leadership change. Since Tottenham’s Europa League triumph, long-serving executive director Donna-Maria Cullen has stepped down, chairman Daniel Levy was removed after 24 years, and CEO Vinai Venkatesham and head coach Thomas Frank were appointed.
Paratici’s return was a key part of this new structure, working alongside co-sporting director Johan Lange. His potential departure so soon after being reinstated has led to questions about the project’s stability.
In a recent press conference, manager Thomas Frank was forced to address questions about Paratici’s future, stating, “Fabio is Tottenham sporting director. I spoke to him twice yesterday. He is working very hard for Tottenham,” but offered no long-term assurances.
Paratici’s career has been shadowed by controversy. He resigned from his initial role as Tottenham’s managing director of football in April 2023 following a worldwide 30-month ban from FIFA.
The ban was related to accusations of financial malpractice concerning the inflation of transfer fees during his previous tenure at Juventus. Tottenham maintained a relationship with him during his suspension, employing him as a consultant before his formal reappointment in October.
This loyalty makes his imminent departure a particular point of discussion. Football finance expert Stefan Borson noted the situation was “surprising,” telling Football Insider, “Spurs kept faith with him… Perhaps he had a great relationship with Levy and, now Levy’s gone, then presumably that’s the link that’s broken”.
For Tottenham, the immediate concern is the impact on their January transfer strategy. The club, which has struggled on the pitch and sits 14th in the Premier League, is yet to make a signing this window.
Paratici is reportedly involved in finalizing the arrival of Brazilian left-back Souza from Santos, which would be Spurs’ first winter acquisition. His exit places greater responsibility on Johan Lange and the recently appointed director of football operations, Carlos Raphael Moersen, to execute the club’s plans.
Conversely, Fiorentina is reportedly counting on Paratici for an immediate overhaul, with plans for four or five signings in January to secure top-flight survival. For Paratici, the move represents a return to Italy and a major long-term project, contrasting sharply with his abbreviated second chapter in North London.
As the February deadline approaches, Tottenham must navigate the remainder of a critical transfer window while adjusting to yet another shift in its sporting directorate.