Andy Robertson, the Scotland captain who once worked at the Hampden ticket office, will become a Tottenham player on 1 July after leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract. The 32-year-old left-back – who devised a ‘Traitors’ game for his national team squad in Turkey last November to ease pressure before crucial World Cup qualifiers – has signed a free-transfer deal with the north London club, who secured Premier League survival on the final day of the season by beating Everton under new manager Roberto de Zerbi.
De Zerbi, who replaced Thomas Frank after Spurs targeted Robertson in the January window only for Liverpool to pull out when unable to recall Kostas Tsimikas from his Roma loan, said: “Andy is someone I’ve admired for a number of years and he will bring outstanding technical qualities, experience, leadership and mentality to our team. He is a proven winner at the highest level over a long period and is someone who can be a big player for us, both on and off the pitch.”
“Scotland captain Andy Robertson joins Tottenham on a free transfer after leaving Liverpool, bringing Premier League and Champions League pedigree.”
Robertson’s journey from a raw attacking full-back who, in Jurgen Klopp’s view, “could not defend” when he arrived from Hull City in 2017, to one of the world’s best, is the stuff of legend. Alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, he set new Premier League assist records as part of Klopp’s ferocious team. He leaves Anfield with two Premier League titles, one Champions League, two League Cups and the FA Cup from 378 appearances – a record some have labelled as the club’s greatest-ever left-back.
For Scotland, his tale is different. His status at Anfield brought pressure on national team duty; a nation starved of major tournaments desperate for a star. Except left-backs are rarely the star – as Robertson himself joked when sending a Liverpool fan a shirt of Roberto Firmino’s after the youngster donated to a foodbank: “Because nobody wants the left-back’s shirt.” He has withstood debate about his position with Kieran Tierney rivalling him, while the most common Hampden songs are odes to Scott McTominay and John McGinn. His Scotland career has been about sheer consistency – 92 caps and counting – and he will lead his country at this summer’s World Cup, Scotland’s first men’s tournament in 28 years.
Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange said: “His quality, character and leadership have been evident throughout a career in which he has regularly competed for – and won – major honours. Andy’s professionalism and commitment will also be invaluable to the development of our squad, and he shares our ambition and determination to bring success back to the club.”