Tottenham have bid farewell to Ryan Sessegnon after his contract with the club ends
Ryan Sessegnon once hailed as the next big thing in English football, is set to leave Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer this summer.
The 24-year-old winger, who joined Spurs from Fulham in 2019 for a reported £25 million, has seen his career at the club spoiled by injuries and limited playing time. The story of Sessegnon’s decline is a cautionary tale of how high expectations can quickly turn bitter.
When Sessegnon arrived at the N17, he was considered a prodigious talent, capable of making a significant impact on the Premier League. His impressive form at Fulham, where he won the Championship Player of the Year award along with Young Player of the Season, and Apprentice of the Year, and was named in the Team of the Season and EFL Club Developed XI. His signing was celebrated by Spurs fans, as the best signing of the summer. The left-sided player was expected to emerge under the guidance of former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who had a reputation for nurturing young talent.
The initial hype surrounding Sessegnon’s move to Tottenham was immense. He was seen as a long-term solution for the left-back position and was expected to provide pace and attacking power to the team. The midfielder scored his first goal for the club against Bayer Munich in the Champions League, with that goal he was also named the youngest Spurs player to score in a Champions League game.
After the initial performances for the club, many football pundits compared his career with former Spurs superstar Gareth Bale. Both of them had certain similarities: Bale was hailed from Southampton also was a promising star in his teenage, whereas Sessegnon had his initial phase with Fulham. Both the players signed for Spurs in prime and played on the left flank.
When Sessegnon was asked about the comparison, he opened up, ‘that he wanted to become more like the former Wales Captain’. In 2021, when his idol came back to N17, they couldn’t share the dressing room. As Sussegnon was in his loan spell with German club Hoffenheim and when he returned to Tottenham, Bale’s loan spell ended with Lillywhites.
But things went upside down for the Englishman, Sessegnon’s time at Spurs was plagued by a series of hamstring issues. Despite making a promising start, he struggled to maintain consistency due to recurring injuries. These injuries not only limited his playing but also affected him mentally, which resulted in reducing his form and confidence.
His inability to stay fit and secure a regular spot in the starting lineup has reduced his value in the market. Later, he was sent to Hoffenheim in a loan deal, and he made 29 appearances for the German club. The loan spell helped him to revive his form and confidence, which also made Spurs not sell him.
Sessegnon’s situation is a stark reminder of the harsh realities of professional football. The game is unforgiving, and even the most promising talents can fall victim to the cruel hand of fate. His story echoes that of Adel Taarabt, another highly expected player who failed to live up to expectations at N17.
The Morrocan signed a permanent deal with Tottenham in 2007, and like Sussegnon, he was also seen as a long-term solution for the club. One famous clip of his time at Spurs shows Taarabt controlling the ball in a Premier League game against Derby County, showing how quick he was with the ball. But unfortunately, that game was his last with Spurs. Appearing only 15 games with Lillywhites the left winger was forced to shut his career in N17 due to injuries and personal issues.
Sussegnon was ambitious about the surgery he underwent last season may resolve his problems so that he can retain his form and play more games with Spurs. But Ange Postecoglou doesn’t have faith in him, so the Spurs manager won’t expect his service anymore at the club. Tottenham already bid farewell to the midfielder and started to seek a replacement for him.
Ryan Sessegnon’s story serves as a reminder of the volatile nature of success in football. The once-bright star of English football has been reduced to a footnote in Tottenham’s history. As Sessegnon prepares to start a new chapter in his career, it is essential to acknowledge the lessons learned from his time at Tottenham.
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He needs a fresh start, he must find a club willing to invest time and resources in his rehabilitation and development. The North London dream may have come crashing down, but Sessegnon still has the potential to write a new chapter in his career. The Spurs fans may have only one thing to say to the player as a farewell message, and that would be “Come on you Sessegnon” for his future endeavours, just like their chant ‘COYS’
