Dele Alli to Tottenham: Latest Transfer Details, Comments and Reaction
With the January transfer window about to slam shut Monday, Tottenham Hotspur were able to come to a last-minute agreement with MK Dons to sign burgeoning young midfielder Dele Alli.
The Spurs official Twitter feed announced the news, noting that the 18-year-old Milton Keynes native will remain with his home club for the rest of the season:
Alli, who has featured on England's under-19 squad, is an impressive young talent who has scored 12 goals and tallied three assists in 27 English League One appearances this season. OptaJoe put that number into perspective:
In addition to his scoring ability, the youngster has showcased incredible skill on the ball, good vision and a penchant to make strong tackles in the midfield. His first professional touch was a perfect back-heel, and if that wasn't enough, many were made quickly aware of his potential when he scored his first goal, a cracker from 35 yards out.
"It was 0-0 against a team from non-league," MK Dons boss Karl Robinson remembered, via BBC Sport's Chris Osborne. "In the replay he scored from 35 yards. And I knew the kid had something."
Of course, as The Daily Telegraph's Henry Winter noted, there is still room for the talented youngster to grow:
Getting playing time is important at this point for Alli, so it will be beneficial for him to stay with MK Dons for the rest of the season and continue to develop.
Still, as Manchester United well knows, Alli is perfectly capable of playing—and having success—against the best teams in the world. Come next season, he should thrive at White Hart Lane.
