How Tottenham almost missed out on Dele Alli signing in 2015

Updated: 20 Oct, 2024 • 0 • min read

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How Tottenham almost missed out on Dele Alli signing in 2015

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Former Tottenham Hotspur director of football David Pleat has revealed that Dele Alli was almost passed up by the Premier League club in 2015.

The talented midfielder was 18-years-old at the time, and plying his trade for League One side MK Dons.

Having been impressed with Alli's performances, Pleat invited technical director Franco Baldini to watch the teenager in League One action.

Spurs stalled on taking action, though, and nearly missed out on his talent, with the club having to be talked into a £5 million deal which has proved quite the bargain.

READ MORE: Eric Dier regrets he didn't do more to help 'special person' Dele Alli

Speaking in an interview with FourFourTwo, Pleat recalled:

I took Franco Baldini to watch him and he was on his phone the whole time - he didn't even watch him.

I've got six reports on Dele over a period of two years. They should've reacted after my first two.

Eventually they heard he was going to Aston Villa or Newcastle. They rang me and I said, "Well, fancy that? Serves you right. You have to get hold of him."

They did the deal really quickly and I persuaded the chairman that £5m wasn't too much to pay.

It was an inspired move for the North London club, with Alli having since gone on to make 269 appearances for Spurs.

Alli has also won the PFA Young Player of the Year Award twice since his move, in back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017.

Whilst the now 28-year-old moved to Everton in 2022, Alli is now without a contract, though he continues to train with the Merseysiders as he seeks a return to football.