James Maddison sends emotional message as new Tottenham exit confirmed

James Maddison has been forced to bid farewell to another teammate at Tottenham Hotspur as changes continue ahead of 2026-27.

Roberto De Zerbi has made some huge changes to the squad since coming in as the manager, signing Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson.

Spurs are yet to lose during pre-season, helping to build a lot of confidence amidst the fanbase, but nothing is certain until the new campaign kicks off.

The Lilywhites kick off their season against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, 22 August, but there is still plenty of time for twists and turns.

De Zerbi has already offloaded the likes of Will Lankshear, Luka Vuskovic and Radu Dragusin, and the current squad is just far too big for domestic competitions.

Were Spurs playing in Europe, the larger squad would make sense, but that just isn't the situation, hence yet another exit being announce in North London.

James Maddison bids farewell to Manor Solomon

Manor Solomon is now the latest to leave, joining Championship giants West Ham United on a permanent deal, three years on from his arrival.

Despite only playing six senior games for Spurs, he clearly made an impact on those in North London, with James Maddison taking to Instagram stories (10 August) with a message.

"Wish you the best of luck, mate! One of the nicest chaps I've ever come across, and helluva player as well! SSG King!" he wrote.

Solomon's best spell since joining the Lilywhites came during the 2024-25 season, having joined Leeds United on loan, where he notched 10 goals and 13 assists in 41 games.

Now, he's back in the Championship with the Hammers, and despite his lack of appearances for Tottenham, the love has poured in for the Israeli international.

Will Maddison be fit for the 2026-27 season opener?

Despite returning to the pitch near the end of the 2025-26 campaign, the creative playmaker has been missing during pre-season for Spurs.

The 29-year-old has not been risked during Tottenham's tour, with De Zerbi confirming that the player had suffered a small setback.

Spurs kick off their season against Brentford, and with Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus all still injured, the team needs creativity.

Thankfully, both Tonali and Fernandes have a keen eye for goal, so Tottenham should deal well without Maddison. They'll want him back as soon as possible, though.