Tottenham Hotspur has been busy transforming their squad during the summer transfer window, adding notable names like Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray, and Wilson Odobert as Ange Postecoglou fine-tunes his vision for the club. While the arrival of fresh talent is encouraging, it has led to the departure of several players on loan, as they find themselves without a role in the immediate plans for the 2024-25 season.
This offers us a prime opportunity to take a closer look at how the 11 Tottenham players who have been sent out on loan are performing in their respective clubs this season.
After clocking up 18 appearances with Doncaster Rovers in League Two during the latter part of last season, it was perhaps unrealistic to expect Scotland Under-21 midfielder Craig to leap straight into the first team for this campaign. However, he has continued his progress in South Yorkshire, this time at League One's Barnsley. Playing a vital role in midfield, he has started nine out of ten matches this season, helping the Tykes as they settle into a mid-table position with a fluctuating record of four wins, three draws, and three losses. This experience should serve him well as he develops.
Despite some fans suggesting that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s seasoned experience could have been beneficial in Spurs' recent 3-2 loss to Brighton, the club appears resolute in fully embracing Postecoglou's dynamic style of play. The Danish international, while not an ideal match for a more aggressive approach, has nonetheless been a regular in Ligue 1 with Marseille. The former Spurs man started strong but hit a bump in the road, suffering setbacks from dropped points against clubs like Strasbourg and Angers. However, his presence is crucial for a team aiming for a Champions League berth.
Meanwhile, Bryan Gil's tenure at Tottenham has been a rather rocky affair. Now on his third loan back to Spain after stints with Valencia and Sevilla, the promising winger is currently with Girona. He made an impact in August by scoring during a 4-0 rout of Osasuna but has since struggled to make his mark, failing to find the net or contribute assists in eight subsequent appearances. Girona, fresh off a sensational top-four finish last season, seems to be missing that spark as they face challenges in maintaining their previous form.
Summer signing Valentín Veliz, who was brought in from Rosario Central for £13million, is still acclimatizing to European football. After limited action with Sevilla last season, he has found more consistent playing time with newly promoted Espanyol, already exceeding his last loan’s playing time. Despite the struggle for the team at the lower end of La Liga, Veliz did provide a crucial match-winning goal in the dying moments of a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Touted as a youth talent, Alfie Scarlett has yet to make a substantial breakthrough at Tottenham, now embarking on his third loan spell in the Football League, this time with Oxford United. Following a rather quiet stint last season with Ipswich Town, where he was recalled due to limited play, Scarlett faces similar trials, having come off the bench in all five Championship outings thus far.
On the other hand, 19-year-old Jamie Donley is getting his first taste of more regular senior football at Leyton Orient in League One. Despite yet to record a goal or assist after seven appearances (five starts), he has caught the eye of manager Richie Wellens, who sees potential in the young forward but emphasizes that defensive duties are an area for improvement.
Another promising talent, 18-year-old Jaden Phillips, has spent his initial months developing with Tottenham's youth team. After a successful spell at Plymouth Argyle, he is now with Stoke City but has found game time difficult to secure, managing only three appearances—two of which were in the League Cup.
Tottenham supporters might find it disappointing to hear that Manor Solomon has battled injuries since his loan move to Leeds United, although he did begin with an assist in his debut match against Hull City. However, a costly slip against Burnley in a subsequent match has raised questions about his consistency.
Meanwhile, Islington’s own right-back, Luke Abbott, has made his mark at Notts County in League Two, where he has impressed by often appearing in the midfield and even registering his first assist to help the team secure a point against Chesterfield.
Reacting positively, Ireland U21 international Reece Devine is currently on loan at Belgian club Westerlo. Having previously gained experience at Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle, Devine has featured in four of their league matches, contributing to the team’s respectable sixth-place standing in the Jupiler Pro League.