Cristian Romero has confirmed he has left Tottenham Hotspur, acknowledging he "wasn't perfect" but said the leaves with "a heart full of memories."
Sources have told ESPN Romero is set to join Atlético Madrid who have agreed a deal with Spurs worth a potential €40 million ($46m).
Atlético will pay a fixed €35m, with the potential for an additional €5m in variables, to sign the Argentina international, sources said.
In a statement on social media on Friday, Romero said: "Thank you to everyone at the club who shared this journey with me. Coaches, teammates, staff and every person working behind the scenes you are all part of my story and have a place in my heart.
"And to the fans: Thank you for loving me, respecting me and making me feel like one of you from day one. Thank you for every hug, every song, every flag, every applause and for always being there.
"I know I wasn't perfect, but one thing gives me peace: I always gave everything. I defended this shirt with pride and with all my heart."
Romero spent five seasons with Spurs, joining initially on loan. He was made club captain in 2025.
The 28-year-old made seven appearances for Argentina at this summer's World Cup, having also been a key member of the team that won the tournament in 2022, as well as the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
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He helped Spurs win the 2025 UEFA Europa League as Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 in the final.
"Today, I say goodbye to a place that, for five seasons, was much more than a club," Romero said.
"It was my home, my challenge and the place where my family and I built such an important part of our lives. I leave with a heart full of memories and enormous pride for everything we lived and achieved together.
"When I arrived, I had a clear dream: to leave my name in this club's history. I knew the only way was through hard work, sacrifice and achieving something that had seemed so difficult for so long: lifting a trophy again. And we did it.
"The journey wasn't perfect, but I don't want that to define my goodbye. I choose to remember the happy moments, the lessons, the people who stood by me and, above all, the love I received during these five years."
Information form ESPN's Rodrigo Faez and Alex Kirkland contributed to this report.