Tottenham have announced that transfer chief Fabio Paratici has returned to N17 on an official basis after months of reports, and he will work alongside Johan Lange as a co-sporting director.

Spurs confirm Fabio Paratici return as new leadership structure revealed

Paratici, who was forced to resign from his previous Spurs post as managing director in 2023 after a worldwide ban from football, has now made a stunning return to North London.

The Italian played a key role in the club’s signings of Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr and other first-team stars, and has advised the Lilywhites on a consultancy basis for months.

1. Cristian Romero

£42.5m

2. Dejan Kulusevski

£25.5m

3. Rodrigo Bentancur

£21.5m

4. Pedro Porro

£40m

5. Djed Spence

£20m

Paratici lent a helping hand to CEO Vinai Venkatesham, Lange and manager Thomas Frank over the summer window, but ex-chairman Daniel Levy’s departure threatened to cast doubt on his rumoured return to Spurs as a full-time employee.

Now, those doubts have been quashed, with Paratici officially taking up a sporting director role with Lange as the pair lead Tottenham’s recruitment drive in unison.

“I’m delighted to be returning to a Club that I love,” Paratici said, via the club’s official website.

“I have been working with Johan, Vinai and Thomas as a consultant for a number of months and I now look forward to returning to London and joining the team full-time. I’m convinced that working in partnership with Johan we can build a special future for the Club and our supporters.”

Venkatesham added that the increased demands on sporting directors in today’s climate prompted the club to move forward with two experienced chiefs in Lange and Paratici.

“This is an important evolution in how we operate. The remit of a Sporting Director today is vast, and by uniting two exceptional leaders in Johan and Fabio, we’re setting the foundations for sustained success,” Venkatesham explained.

“They are both outstanding football minds, with complementary expertise and strong track records. This structure reflects our ambition and our determination to compete at the very highest level to deliver for our supporters.

“Together, Fabio and Johan will lead with purpose.”

After Tottenham were also bankrolled with a £100 million cash injection via the Lewis family last week, the January transfer window now looks even more interesting.

Tottenham identify new target in Rangers star Nicolas Raskin

According to TEAMtalk, Lange and Paratici may have already got to work on identifying a new target for midfield — Rangers star Nicolas Raskin.

The Belgium international is cut above the Gers’ star man at Ibrox, with the Glasgow giants placing a £20-25 million price tag on his head. A sale at that price would make Raskin their club-record departure, and it is believed Spurs have emerged as the latest contender for his signature.

Tottenham are expressing an interest in Raskin ahead of the January window, and considering he has just under two years remaining on his current contract, the Teddy Bears may well have a decision to make if Paratici and Lange come forward with a suitable bid.

The 24-year-old, who was a handful for James Maddison for Spurs when they met Rangers in the Europa League last season, bagged five goals and 11 assists in nearly 50 appearances across 24/25, despite mostly playing as a defensive anchor.

With Yves Bissouma likely departing in 2026, whether that be in the winter or at the end of the season when his deal expires, Raskin could be a very astute replacement for the Mali international.

Rangers are faced with a critical decision amidst serious interest from the Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga — cash-in now or risk losing him for a much cheaper price further down the line.