Dele Alli now Searching for a New Club After Como Snub | OneFootball

Dele Alli’s Como Exit Signals Another Fork in the Road for the Former England Star

Dele Alli’s turbulent journey in professional football has taken another unexpected turn. As reported by The Times, the former Tottenham Hotspur and England international has been informed he is no longer part of Serie A side Como’s plans, less than a year after joining the Italian club on an 18-month deal.

The 29-year-old was notably absent from Como’s pre-season training camp in Marbella, instead remaining at the club’s Mozzate base with other players whose futures lie elsewhere. Though speculation in Italy suggested Alli could be contemplating retirement, sources have firmly dismissed those claims, with The Times reporting that he remains “keen to continue rebuilding his career at a new team.”

For a player once heralded as one of Europe’s brightest midfielders, Alli’s situation reflects the lingering impact of both physical setbacks and personal challenges. It also opens the door, yet again, for a possible fresh start.

Brief Comeback Ends in Red

Alli’s time at Como will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. After a prolonged injury spell, he made his long-awaited competitive return in March during an away fixture against AC Milan. But the comeback lasted only ten minutes.

“He was sent off ten minutes into his return for a challenge on his former England team-mate, Ruben Loftus-Cheek,” the article notes. Initially booked, the yellow card was upgraded to a red following a VAR review. Even Milan’s Kyle Walker, another ex-Spurs and England teammate, “pleaded with the official not to send him off” when the decision was made.

The red card proved terminal for his role at Como. He has not featured since, and that solitary appearance will now go down as both his debut and farewell for the club.

From Public Trauma to Private Recovery

Alli’s recent years have been shaped not only by his on-pitch struggles but also by deeply personal revelations. In a powerful 2023 interview with The Overlap, he spoke openly about his childhood trauma, including sexual abuse and involvement with drugs at a very young age. It was a stark and courageous insight into a life that has long been misunderstood.

He sought help by entering a rehabilitation centre in the United States to battle an addiction to sleeping pills. Upon his return, he continued his recovery both physically and mentally with Everton, training with the squad even after his contract expired in July 2024.

Career Still Has Chapters Left

While some may view Dele Alli’s story as nearing its conclusion, the player himself clearly sees it differently. Aged 29 and motivated to prove he still has something to offer, there remains a chance for revival, perhaps in a league or environment better suited to his recovery and reinvention.

As The Times rightly points out, “Reports in Italy suggesting that he is considering retirement are understood to be wide of the mark.” For those who still recall the vision, skill and swagger he once displayed at Tottenham, there is reason to hope that Alli’s footballing narrative isn’t yet over. What it needs now is the right club, the right role and above all, the right support.