Tottenham have announced that Dele Alli will return to north London as a special guest for Sunday’s Premier League showdown with rivals Arsenal.
In a club statement, Spurs confirmed that Dele will be at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the North London Derby (4:30pm UK time). One of the club’s most popular modern players, the attacking midfielder scored 67 goals in 269 appearances between 2015 and 2022. His famous chant, “We’ve got Dele…”, was the first song sung by fans at the new stadium ahead of its opening night against Crystal Palace in April 2019.
Supporters will get the chance to welcome him again at half-time, when he is set to reflect on his memorable Spurs moments alongside Paul Coyte.
Dele’s return is expected to lift the mood around the club ahead of such a crucial fixture. The 29-year-old has been without a club since September after leaving Italian side Como, where he made just one appearance under Cesc Fabregas. Prior to that, he had spells at Everton and Besiktas following his departure from Tottenham in February 2022.
Under Mauricio Pochettino, Dele formed part of a feared attacking quartet with Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min that troubled many Premier League sides.
Meanwhile, Igor Tudor is currently in interim charge following the dismissal of Thomas Frank, with Spurs set to appoint a permanent manager in the summer. The club sit just five points above the relegation zone, and Sunday’s clash with league leaders Arsenal — who have won only two of their last seven league games — marks a vital opportunity to turn their season around.
