Radu Dragusin has joined Fiorentina on a season-long loan from Tottenham, with an obligation to buy triggered after a set number of games. The Romania defender returns to Serie A following a difficult year marked by an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is targeting a fresh start in Florence.

The agreement between the clubs includes a reported obligation to purchase for 17.5m once Dragusin reaches his 22nd appearance for Fiorentina. The move offers consistent playing time in Italy, after Dragusin has managed only 24 games for Spurs since arriving in January 2024.

Dragusin’s move also sends the defender back to familiar surroundings, as the centre-back came through the Juventus academy and later joined Genoa. Dragusin spent two seasons with Genoa before leaving Italy for Tottenham, so this transfer links past experience in Serie A with current targets at Fiorentina.

At Tottenham, Dragusin has seen first-team action but not on a regular basis. The ACL injury ruled Dragusin out for almost a full year, limiting development in the Premier League. After recovering, Dragusin has been eager to find a role with more minutes, which Fiorentina can potentially provide across domestic and European fixtures.

Dragusin described strong enthusiasm after sealing the transfer and addressed Fiorentina’s supporters through the club’s official channels. “I feel really good. I am so happy to be here and can’t wait to get started with the lads on the pitch,” Dragusin told Fiorentina’s media, outlining readiness to fit into the squad quickly.

The defender’s arrival was also highlighted on Fiorentina’s social platforms, underlining the importance of the deal for the club’s defensive options. The post came shortly after the announcement, adding further focus on Dragusin’s loan switch from Spurs and the conditions attached to a permanent signing.

Dragusin shared more detail about personal links with Florence and the lessons gained during time in England. “I had already come to Florence a few times when playing for Genoa, just as a tourist to visit this beautiful city and its amiable people. There is a big season ahead of us, and we certainly want to do well. The experience at Tottenham helped me grow a great deal, both as a player and a man. I carry with me the many tough duels I had with opposition strikers, the quality of the players I faced. It helped me to mature, and I hope to bring that experience with me in this new team. I couldn’t wait to get here.”

Radu Dragusin Fiorentina loan backed by Tottenham statistics

After returning from the ACL injury at Spurs, Dragusin accumulated 10 appearances in all competitions. Five of those outings were starts, showing growing trust from Tottenham’s coaches after a long lay-off. Defensive metrics from those games suggest Dragusin can add presence and discipline to Fiorentina’s back line.

Across those 10 matches for Tottenham, Dragusin won exactly half of the duels contested. Dragusin also delivered a high number of defensive actions in limited minutes, with clearances and interceptions pointing to strong positioning. The figures below summarise Dragusin’s impact for Spurs after recovery.

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Those numbers will be closely watched in Florence as Dragusin adapts to Vincenzo Italiano’s system. Fiorentina expect Dragusin to apply experience from Premier League forwards and earlier Serie A spells. With an obligation to buy linked to 22 appearances, consistent selection would also convert the current loan into a long-term stay.