Tottenham Hotspur has announced a temporary halt in their search for a new sporting director, with the club confirming the process will resume after the conclusion of the current summer transfer window. The decision was communicated by Chief Executive Vinai Venkatesham during a Fan Advisory Board (FAB) meeting on 16 June, where he indicated that appointing a new sporting director was not an immediate priority.
The club had previously operated with a dual sporting director structure, including Fabio Paratici who departed in February for personal reasons. While another sporting director was initially expected to be brought in this summer, Venkatesham stated in the meeting minutes that the club has confidence in its existing personnel. He added that if an individual capable of complementing and enhancing the current team is found, an appointment would be made at the appropriate time, but not during the ongoing summer window.
Currently, recruitment responsibilities for this transfer window are being led by Johan Lange, Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi, and Rafi Moersen, who recently joined Tottenham as Director of Football Operations. Moersen, whose remit includes recruitment, player transactions, and overseeing the women’s team, commenced his role on the same day as the FAB meeting after a period of garden leave following his departure from City Football Group.
During the wide-ranging FAB meeting, both Venkatesham and Non-executive Chairman Peter Charrington labelled the 2025-26 campaign as "unacceptable." Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation with a final-day victory over Everton, a performance the club is keen to avoid repeating. Charrington emphasised that every decision made at Tottenham is judged by the metric, 'Does this make us a better football team?', while Venkatesham reiterated the ambition to compete for major trophies and play an attractive style of football.
Venkatesham also defended Johan Lange, who has faced criticism from some fans following the club's 17th-place finishes in his two full seasons. Venkatesham clarified that player acquisitions and sales are a collaborative effort between Lange's team and De Zerbi, rather than solely the manager's or the club's decision. He highlighted Lange's critical role in appointing De Zerbi, who was the club's number one choice and has shown full commitment to Tottenham, even in the event of relegation.