From Hot Prospect to Plummeting Career: The Dele Alli Story

“Fast, fluid and has a great skill set” was how former Tottenham player Rafael van der Vaart described Everton midfielder Bamidele Alli.

It has been a torrid few years for Dele Alli, especially on the pitch. Alli was once named among the brightest young players who was going to take the football world by storm. Sadly, the young man, at the prime age of 26, is experiencing a serious plunge in his once burgeoning career.

The latest news on the attacking midfielder is his impending move away from Everton to Turkish club Beşiktaş. This could come as a suprise to many who saw the rise of the creative and brilliant player. Could the ‘many’ also be witnessing his rapid fall? Maybe.

His move to the Goodison Park was a step to revive his already dying career. It’s only eight months with the Toffees but Alli is already on his way to a much lesser glamorous league.

Alli’s disciplinary record, injuries and his suddenly estranged relationship with his parents are some of the issues surrounding his reputation.

How Alli Emerged

Alli burst onto the scene in his debut season at Tottenham Hotspur. He was bought from English League One side, Milton Keynes Dons.

He was a teenage player in the 2014/2015 season when MK Dons shockingly defeated Manchester United in the League Cup. The 4-0 second round match win against the Premier League giants witnessed various scouts from elite clubs across Europe.

Following further impressive performances, the youngster was awarded the League Young Player of the Year for August 2014. Spurs snapped him up early 2015 but was immediately loaned back to MK Dons till the end of the season. He also won the League’s Young Player of the Year award as he helped the Dons gain promotion to the Championship.

At Tottenham, Alli had very decent seasons and made several appearances for the English national team. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2016/2017 season.

His performances have no doubt been more of impressive outings rather than disappointing ones. He was once linked to Spanish giants Real Madrid and several other top clubs in European leagues.

Alli won the Premier League Young Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons. The first of those two campaigns was in fact, his debut season in the English topflight. He scored one of the most beautiful goals we have seen in the Premier League back in January, 2016. It was a 25-yard volley in an away victory over Crystal Palace.

Also Read: Emmanuel Dennis Completes Move to Nottingham Forest from Watford for 20m

Form, Injuries, Discipline and Gradual Decline

The player netted his first goal of the 2017/2018 league season in Spurs 2-0 win over Newcastle. However, he was called out repeatedly for his inconsistency during the course of the campaign. In 2019, he was sidelined until March following a hamstring injury.

In April 2016, the 6ft 2in tall player was banned by the English FA for three matches. This means his league season was ended abruptly. He however apologised for the off-the-ball occurrence with West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob, which resulted in the ban.

Alli, who last featured for the Three Lions in 2019, was found guilty of an “aggravated breach” of the FA rule back in 2020. The rule includes a reference to colour, race, ethnic origin and/or nationality. The FA deemed the player to have made use of an “unacceptable racist stereotype.”

As a result, he was suspended for one match, making him unavailable for Tottenham’s league match against Manchester United. He was also slapped with a £50,000 fine and was directed to take an education course.

During the first half of 2020/2021 season, the player’s relationship with Portuguese manager José Mourinho turned sour. It was evident in the fact that he only started a few games during that period.

In a 2019 video circulating on social media, Mourinho was seen giving a piece of advise to Alli. The 26-year-old was getting accustomed to unnecessary bookable offences like diving and simulation. He was also exhibiting bad behaviour that did not portray him in good light.

In the video, Mourinho told Alli: “… I think one day, you’ll regret, if you don’t reach what you can reach. I’m not expecting you to be man of the match every game. I’m not expecting you to score goals every game.

“You should demand more from you, not me demanding more from you. Not me. Nobody. You. I think you should demand more from you. Thank you mate.” Mourinho concluded.

Life at Everton

The midfielder saw the opportunity to work under new manager Lampard as a major reason for his move to Everton. However, he has come off the bench in the two Everton matches this season.

In total, he has started only one game in 13 outings since teaming up with the Merseyside club and is now on the verge of a loan move to Beşiktaş.

Alli was a key figure in helping Everton avoid relegation last season. He, alongside the likes of Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi, Richarlison, Demarai Gray, Abdoulaye Doucoure, amongst others, helped the club achieve important results in order to avoid the drop.

Everton manager Frank Lampard has also challenged Alli to be more consistent in training.

Falling Out With Family… and Efforts to Reconcile

Alli was born in Milton Keynes to a Nigerian father Kehinde and an English mother Denise. Kehinde left England for the United States shortly after the birth of his son. Multiple reports made it clear that Denise suffered from alcoholism, while bringing up Alli.

Prior to the start of the 2016/2017 season, Alli dumped his previous kit name (his surname) and opted for “Dele.” His reason was that he had “no connection” to his legitimate surname as a result of his separation from his mother.

When Alli turned nine, he relocated with his dad and was in an international school in Nigeria for two years. He returned to the United Kingdom thereafter to live with his mother.

Alli later lived with a couple he termed “adoptive parents” even though they never adopted him legally.

Kehinde and Denise have had an estranged relationship with their son over the years and have made several attempts to reunite with him. They have released pictures of moments with the footballer to show they had a good relationship with him before now.

They have tried severally to establish communication with Alli again but all efforts have proved abortive.

After turning 11, his passion for football grew and he deeply committed to the sport.

“It was hard for me to let him go but I knew it was the best thing for him and his ambition,” Kehinde told Sunday Mirror during an interview.

Denise, during an interview, said: “When he was about 13 Dele began training at MK Dons five days a week. So for convenience, he began staying at his best friend’s house during the week, before coming home on weekends.

“It was hard to let him live away from home, but we didn’t have a car and I was finding it hard to get him to training myself.”

Many have concluded Alli’s mother had to separate from him due to her alcohol issues. She denied this vehemently, saying: ““It has been said that I was suffering from alcoholism. And that I gave him up because I couldn’t look after him, but that is a lie.

“I wanted to give him the best chance of achieving his dream, but he was still my son. I was there for him whenever he needed me.

“He was never adopted by his friend’s parents – I would not have allowed it. My kids are my world.”

She said she visited the White Hart Lane in 2017 but was ignored by him as he walked past her.

“I waited outside after the match and when Dele came out I quietly said to him. ‘Dele. It’s me. Your mum. He didn’t stop. He just looked at me, said he was busy and drove off. I was in tears, it was heartbreaking.”

Kehinde denied any reports suggesting that the player could be avoiding the oil and gas entrepreneur because he (the father) was not there for Alli.

He said he could not understand why anyone would say that. Kehinde added that Alli lived with him for several years and he had always been there for him emotionally and financially.

The father also said he paid for every holiday Alli went on until he was an adult.

He further stated: “I bought him his first car when he passed his driving test. Now he is turning his back on the family who love him.

“I know some people will think we just want him for his money, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m very wealthy in my own right and I don’t need a penny from Dele.

“I just want to be here for him and for him to know that I love him.”

Talking about the last time she spoke to her son, Denise said: “He was in great spirits and said, ‘I love you mum’. I had no idea that would be the last time I would see him. It still leaves me shocked.”

Both parents said they had tried their luck severally to see Dele and talk to him. They claim they had attended Tottenham games, visited the training ground and even joined stadium tours.

Meanwhile, Dele’s story is quite the opposite of former Everton player, Ross Barkley. The Chelsea midfielder was also born to a Nigerian father named Patrick Effanga and an English mother, Diane Barkley.

Also Read: 5 Nigerian Players to Watch in the 2022/23 EPL Season

He has however chosen to bear his mother’s surname because he never met his father. Barkley has said he wishes to meet him one day.

“Maybe the one thing I will like to add to my career if I can is to meet with my father. He is a Nigerian who left my mother while I was still very young and since then I haven’t set my eyes on him.”

Unpleasant Times for Alli

“Tough times” is how Dele’s on and off the pitch predicaments can be described as. His deep in form over the years has been a cause for worry among his fans.

Those who saw Alli develop will understand that he is still too young, football wise, to experience such plummet in his career.

Reasons are not far fetched. The young man was very promising and will only regret it if his career keeps going down like this.

His parents’ pleas have also coincided with all of the on-the-field issues and it is still not entirely clear why he has failed to associate with his family.

It will take something extraordinary for Alli to reach the heights he once reached years ago – if he ever does.