Dele Alli Sent Trial Warning After Scary Fall From Grace As Ex-Tottenham Midfielder Faces Slim Opportunities

Dele Alli’s football journey has taken another worrying turn. Once one of England’s brightest midfield prospects, he now finds himself without a club and fighting to save what’s left of his career. Former Tottenham defender Stephen Carr believes the 29-year-old may have reached a point where trial spells are his only remaining path back into professional football.

It’s a harsh reality, but one that reflects how drastically—almost unbelievably—Dele’s career has declined.

How Dele Became a Free Agent

Dele’s contract with Serie A side Como was terminated in September 2025 after a tough spell that saw him make just one appearance—an outing that lasted less than ten minutes and ended in a red card against AC Milan.

Before that, he struggled at Everton, where injuries and patchy form made it impossible to secure a regular place. His loan to Besiktas in early 2023 was supposed to revive his career, but instead marked the beginning of his long battle with inconsistency, fitness issues, and confidence.

For a player who once dominated Premier League midfields and shone on the international stage, the contrast is sobering.

Stephen Carr: “It’s Scary How He’s Fallen”

Speaking to GOAL, Carr didn’t mince words. His assessment was blunt but honest: Dele Alli’s chances are running out.

“It’s scary how he’s fallen. He’s only 29, just past his peak, but he hasn’t played anywhere near enough football,” Carr said.

Carr compared Dele’s situation to a player coming back from severe injury—training alone can’t replicate match rhythm, intensity, and sharpness. His body simply isn’t used to competing at the highest level anymore, and that gap is becoming harder to close.

Even worse, Carr fears Dele may now be more prone to injuries because he hasn’t played consistently for so long.

Trial Time: Dele May Not Get to Choose His Next Club

Carr believes Dele’s next opportunity—if he gets one—won’t come with fanfare or big-club anticipation. It will likely come in the form of a trial, where he must prove he still belongs in the professional ranks.

“Wherever he ends up, he isn’t going to get to pick. It could be a trial where you have to prove it. It’s whether he has the stomach for that,” Carr said.

Trials are humbling experiences, even for players who’ve never reached Dele’s highs. For someone who has played Champions League football, carried England’s hopes, and been one of Europe’s most exciting young players, the mental shift required will be enormous.

Does Dele Still Have the Hunger?

Clubs in the EFL—including Wrexham and Birmingham—have been loosely linked, but the bigger question isn’t about who wants him. It’s about whether Dele wants it badly enough.

According to Carr, this stage of his career will be less about talent and more about mental strength.

“You aren’t a top player on paper anymore. You have to prove yourself again,” he said. “Whether he is up to the task, who knows, but his chances are slim—very slim.”

At just 29, Dele still has time. But time without football can be as damaging as any injury. If he can swallow his pride, rebuild his fitness, and embrace the grind, his story might yet have one final chapter.

But if not, this could be the closing pages of one of English football’s most unexpected declines.

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