Former Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli urged to reinvent himself in the English Championship
After a very brief loan spell with Como, Dele Alli has been a free agent since he parted ways with the Italian outfit in January 2025. The former Tottenham wonderkid, once regarded as one of the best English midfielders in the world, is now clubless at just 29.
Alli made just one appearance for Como and was shown a red card in their clash against AC Milan after coming on as a substitute. He now needs to find another club quickly if he wants to have any chance of being selected for the 2026 World Cup.
In a recent interview with GOAL, former footballer turned pundit, Clinton Morrison, advised Championship managers to snap up Alli and build their team around him. He stated:
If I’m a Championship manager or chairman, I’m looking to sign Dele Alli. I’m giving him the love that he needs, arm around the shoulder and say ‘you’re going to be the main man here, we’ll give you the game time. You have got to get fit and earn the right, but when he is fit and flying there aren’t many players that are as good as Dele Alli in the Championship.”
“I do believe that he doesn’t need to think about the Premier League and maybe take a step back to the Championship and play football there. Go and enjoy yourself. That’s what you want, Dele Alli enjoying himself and playing with a smile on his face and showcasing his ability. We know he has got loads of ability and that’s what you want from him.”
Alli is a player with fantastic ability, and if he can get back to his better self, then he can become a major asset to a championship-level club. He has recently struggled with persistent injury problems, limiting him to just one appearance since February 2023. While reminiscing about the midfielder’s stellar goal against Crystal Palace for the Lilywhites, Morrison spoke about his talent, stating:
“I think he’s a fantastic footballer. He has got so much ability, such an elegant footballer. He’s brilliant. You probably would say it is last chance saloon for him now. He needs to find a football club and just be happy and be the Dele Alli that we all know with the natural ability that he has got.”
“It’s down to Dele Alli now what he wants to do. Does he want to continue and find another club? Where does he want to play his football? But there is no doubt about Dele Alli, he has got some major talent, unbelievable. I remember the goal he scored at Palace – flicked over the defender’s head and wellied it first time. He’s a top, top player.”
“He’s had a very good career but injuries and other stuff have kind of stopped him. I still think he’s a top talent. I wish him well and hopefully he can get back to his best because talent like that we don’t see a lot. He’s a super player.”
The clock is certainly ticking for Alli, who burst onto the scene as a teenager with MK Dons before making a move to Tottenham in 2015. At his peak, the attacking midfielder was virtually unplayable, scoring 67 goals across all competitions for Spurs and earning 37 England caps between 2015 and 2019.
Beyond the tactical and technical aspects, Alli has also been open about his personal struggles. In a candid interview last year, he spoke about his difficult upbringing and mental health challenges, revealing a vulnerable side that many fans hadn’t seen before. His honesty was widely praised, but it also highlighted that his journey back to the top will require more than just physical fitness.
Morrison’s suggestion that Alli should drop down to the Championship is not without merit. The second tier of English football has previously served as a rehabilitation ground for talented players who have lost their way. Several players have rebuilt their careers in the Championship before earning moves back to the Premier League.
With the 2026 World Cup now firmly in his sights, Alli faces a defining moment in his career. The talent is undeniable, but it won’t be enough on its own. He needs games, goals, and most importantly, he needs to rediscover the joy that once made him such an exciting player to watch. Given that he has been off the boil, it will truly be a miracle if he can even garner Thomas Tuchel’s attention. We, for one, will be happy just to see him enjoy football if nothing else.