Callum Olusesi is expected to stay at Tottenham this season, with Roberto De Zerbi reportedly viewing the academy midfielder as part of his first-team plans.
Highly-regarded Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Callum Olusesi is expected to remain in North London for the 2026/27 season and actively compete for senior match minutes under head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
According to Last Word On Spurs on X via Sean Tabuteau, the 19-year-old academy prospect is currently undergoing rehabilitation for an injury, but has received personal assurances from the coaching staff that he forms an integral part of Tottenham’s first-team plans moving forward.
While several of his academy peers traveled with Roberto De Zerbi’s senior squad for early pre-season preparations, Olusesi was notably absent from the touring group as he continues working through a tailored recovery program at Hotspur Way. Rather than risking a premature return to competitive intensity during overseas travel, the club’s medical team opted to keep the young midfielder in London to concentrate on reaching full physical fitness.
Despite his temporary lack of match availability, the direct communication from De Zerbi has provided strong clarity regarding his standing at the club. Rather than sanctioning a loan move to the Football League for the upcoming campaign, Tottenham’s technical staff view Olusesi as a player capable of pushing for rotational minutes across domestic and European cup competitions once his rehabilitation is complete.
Olusesi’s inclusion in De Zerbi’s long-term framework caps off years of impressive progress through Tottenham’s youth hierarchy. Having helped propel Spurs’ Under-17 and Under-18 sides to a Premier League Cup double during his junior development years, the London-born midfielder has consistently performed above his age profile.
After signing a long-term professional contract extending through June 2029, Olusesi earned valuable senior experience during the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons. He made his senior European debut against Hoffenheim in the UEFA Europa League, captained Tottenham in the UEFA Youth League, and earned his Premier League debut as a second-half substitute against Liverpool at Anfield. On the international stage, his rapid progress has been recognized across England’s youth teams, culminating in his debut for the England Under-20 side.
Tactical Profile and Role in De Zerbi’s Engine Room
Standing 6ft 1in with impressive box-to-box endurance, technical composure on the ball, and an innate ability to break lines through central spaces, Olusesi offers a complete modern midfield profile. His physical stature combined with creative vision allows him to operate comfortably as a central playmaker or as an energetic box-to-box presence.
Roberto De Zerbi’s tactical system places immense demands on central midfielders, requiring quick decision-making under pressure, positional awareness, and high pressing output. By choosing to retain Olusesi alongside other emerging homegrown talents such as Mikey Moore and Jun’ai Byfield, De Zerbi is demonstrating a clear commitment to fostering internal academy talent while building a robust, versatile squad for the long season ahead.
