In the shadow of Windsor Castle, Dele Alli is trying to keep his football life moving. The former Tottenham and England midfielder is currently without a club and has been training with Windsor & Eton, a side in England’s eighth tier, as he looks to preserve his fitness after leaving Como.
Alli, now 30, has also begun streaming online and used one recent live broadcast to speak with former teammates. Harry Kane was among those who answered the call, with Alli telling England’s captain that he deserved to win the Ballon d’Or.
From Tottenham’s rise to an uncertain present
The pair were central figures in Mauricio Pochettino’s memorable Tottenham team. Alli spent seven years with Spurs, from 2015 until 2022, and became one of the country’s most prominent young players during that period.
He won 37 England caps and scored three international goals, while also featuring in the squad that reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals in Russia. His last appearance for the national team came in 2019.
His career later became disrupted by injuries and personal difficulties. Alli underwent six weeks of treatment in a rehabilitation clinic for an addiction to sleeping pills, before attempting to restart his playing career at Everton. A loan spell at Beşiktaş followed, but injuries continued to limit his progress.
In an emotional interview in July 2023, Alli spoke publicly about a traumatic childhood, saying he had been sexually abused at the age of six and had been involved in drug dealing by the age of eight. He also addressed his mental-health struggles and said he still hoped to return to the England setup.
Brief Como spell ends after Milan dismissal
Alli’s most recent club was Como, where he signed on 19 January 2025 under Cesc Fàbregas. The Italian adventure lasted until September that year and produced only one competitive appearance.
That lone outing came against Milan. Alli entered in the 81st minute to replace Lucas Da Cunha, but was sent off ten minutes later after a challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
With no new destination yet confirmed, the sessions at Windsor & Eton offer a modest but practical base for a player once at the centre of Tottenham’s ascent alongside Kane, and who is now seeking a route back into professional football.
