Dele Alli in limbo as he’s left out of Everton Premier League squad after contract ran down… but star handed lifeline
DELE ALLI has been left out of Everton’s Premier League squad following the end of his contract last season.
The 28-year-old midfielder had reportedly been working towards gaining a new deal with the Toffees, after being named on the club’s retained list in May, but remains unemployed.
But Alli has been offered a lifeline as there remains hope for a space to open up in Everton’s 23-man squad .
According to Prem rules, free agents can join the squad after the deadline if less than 25 players have been named.
With Youssef Chermiti, Roman Dixon and Harrison Armstrong classed as youth, there is room on the first-team list of free agents.
Any Prem squad with 25 players or more cannot add free agents until the next registration window in January.
Alli made just 13 appearances for Everton in two-and-a-half years and didn’t feature once in the previous campaign due to fitness issues.
But he continued to train with Everton, who have remained supportive, at Finch Farm despite technically being a free agent.
Dyche suggested in August that Alli could play his way into a new deal if he impresses in some behind-closed-doors friendlies.
After leaving Tottenham for Everton in January 2022, Alli joined Turkish team Besiktas on a season-long loan with an option to buy eight months later.
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He has not played competitively at all since he was substituted at half-time for Besiktas in a goalless draw against Antalyaspor in February 2023 and returned to Everton last summer.
In July 2023, Alli bravely opened up on his mental health battle after previously revealing his childhood trauma over being abused and selling drugs.
The 37-capped England international also went to rehab for a sleeping pill addiction.
But Alli told Monday Night Football that he was getting back to a better place.
He said: “I’m doing really well, it’s been nearly a year now. I’m feeling good, obviously injured which is disappointing.
“I think when I did that interview that I’d said it was the best I’d felt at that time, obviously coming out of rehab and getting ready to be back playing.
“It’s been tough but it’s a journey I’ve been on and I’m enjoying it and just waiting to get back now.
“The reaction and support that I got was obviously overwhelming.
“It was amazing to see how many people that did help and I’m definitely very proud of it.”
At his pomp, Alli looked to have the world at his feet after scoring 67 goals and providing 58 assists in 269 games for Spurs.
Meanwhile, Dyche’s own job is safe for now after a vote of confidence from the Everton board following three defeats from three this season.
Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25
NOTHING stays the same forever.
And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.
Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.
Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.
There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.
Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.