Dele Alli has been using an academy pitch at Tottenham's Hotspur Way training ground in order to stay fit, football.london understands. The 29-year-old was back at his former club last month as a special guest for the North London Derbyand he has seemingly remained in the capital.
Speaking to those inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at half-time of the Arsenal game, he said: "I hope you've missed me as much as I've missed you. A lot has happened in our journeys since we were last together, but I'm back today, and I hope you know that you'll always be my family."
Given his hugely successful seven-year spell at Spurs, it is clear there is a strong relationship between Dele and the club with that further evidenced by him training at Hotspur Way.
On Wednesday afternoon, Dele uploaded a photo and some videos to his Instagram story showing him in action. The latter clips involved some quick passing drills around practice mannequins along with shots into open goals.
Dele has been without a club since leaving Serie A side Como in September 2025. He had spent just six months in Italy under Cesc Fabregas following mixed spells at Besiktas and Everton.
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The MK Dons academy product has endured a challenging last few years in football and during that, revealed to Gary Neville in an emotional interview that he was abused as a child and was dealing drugs aged 8.
His comments from late last month have suggested he is firmly focused on a return to football and is training at his old club with the aim of securing a contract soon.
Re-joining Tottenham has even been mooted with the sensational return of Mauricio Pochettino already looking likely for the 2026/27 season. The Argentine will be in charge of the USA at their home World Cup this summer but could depart after the tournament at the end of his contract.
Speaking on potentially managing Spurs again, Pochettino told “Radiogaceta de los Deportes” on RNE in Spain, last month: “I’m always linked (to clubs), to Tottenham, just like at one time I was linked to Espanyol, or to other clubs.
"In the end, especially because of my past at those clubs, when things aren’t going well, people tend to fall back on emotions and say, ‘Well, with Mauricio we played good football,’ or whatever it may be.
"But no. We’re focused on the World Cup, on the United States. My contract runs until after the World Cup, so after that we’ll see what might happen. Open to everything, right?”
The 54-year-old actually coming back is unlikely if Spurs are in the Championship next season with relegation from the Premier League a serious possibility, as they sit four points clear of the bottom three with 10 games to play.
