Former Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli opens up on future ambitions for club and country

The twenty-eight-year-old midfielder, who recently signed with Everton, hasn't participated in a competitive match since February 26, 2023, when he went on an unremarkable loan to the Turkish team Besiktas. Since then, he has been mired in an injury nightmare, and when his deal at Goodison Park finishes at the finish of the current season, he will be eligible for free agency.

Despite this, Dele is determined to make his way into the 2026 World Cup preparations, having scored over 50 goals in the English Premier League and earning 37 caps for England. He had a poor run of form over the last few years but is determined to make big strides in the upcoming campaigns.

What did Dele Alli speak about in his most recent interview?

He disclosed to Sky Sports as he said, “I know my level as a player and what I can get to. I know how good I can be when my head is in the right place and I'm feeling good. Obviously I'm disappointed with the injury right now but I'm excited to get playing. It's hard for me to even watch football. It's been tough for me, I'd say, this past eight months has been hard to watch. You know you can set reminders on your phone, I have a reminder at 11 o'clock every day that says, ‘World Cup 2026’.”

The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder added, “That's my aim for now. I think that people will be like, ‘he hasn't played in a year’ but I don't care, I know my level. The only target I have is the World Cup right now. Obviously I'm injured and contracted to Everton and so my mind is just about taking it day by day and making sure my injury is healed and that I'm in the best possible condition after the summer. It's annoying because I'll be just fully training as the season ends so it means that I won't have to rush it.”