Dele Alli's career has had a difficult time since his departure from Tottenham Hotspur in 2022. The midfielder, now 28, was once the shining star of the Premier League, breaking into the Spurs squad at just 19 after his move from MK Dons.
His dazzling performances for Spurs propelled him to stardom and earned him a regular spot on the England team. However, his career hit a rough patch towards the end of his time at Spurs, and his form hasn't improved since his loan spell at Besiktas and subsequent move to Everton.
Off-field issues have also plagued Dele, who courageously opened up about his troubled past in a 2023 interview with Gary Neville. He spoke candidly about childhood abuse, drug dealing, and his struggle with sleeping pill addiction.
The decline in his career is as dramatic as his initial rise to fame as a teenager. But there's hope yet for a comeback, with the midfielder frequently sharing updates on his fitness journey via social media.
Dele inked a two-and-a-half year contract with Everton in January 2022, which has now come to an end. During this period, he only managed to make 13 appearances and he has not played for the Toffees since August 2022.
Currently without a club, Dele has accepted an offer from Everton to continue training at their Finch Farm base as pre-season preparations for the 2024/25 Premier League season kick off.
Everton manager Sean Dyche has maintained contact with the player and extended the invitation for him to join the squad for pre-season training. Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell, stated: "Dele's contract is coming to an end, but our medical team will continue to support him while he completes the intensive rehabilitation program he is currently undergoing following the operation he had earlier this year.
"Both Sean and I agree it is important we ensure Dele's rehabilitation is not impacted by his contract situation at such a critical point in his recovery."