The Italian manager has signed a five-year contract with Spurs and has the immediate task of saving the club from relegation with seven Premier League games remaining this season.

De Zerbi does not have a relegation clause in his contract that would enable him to walk away in the event of Tottenham being relegated to the Championship.

He said: "I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world.

"In all my discussions with the club's leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear - to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters. I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.

"Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season."

De Zerbi becomes Tottenham's third manager of the season following the departure of interim boss Igor Tudor last weekend.

The club are just one point and one place above the relegation zone and are yet to win a Premier League game in 2026.

The former Brighton boss had been the club's first choice to take over following the dismissal of Thomas Frank in February, but it was deemed too early to give him the job as he had left his position at French side Marseille on the same day.

Spurs were reluctant to appoint another interim boss after Tudor's dismal reign and believe that De Zerbi's arrival will allow them to plan for the summer transfer window.

The club's sporting director Johan Lange said: "Roberto was our number one target for the summer and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now.

"He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League."