Dele Alli Released After Just 1 Game: Why Como Cut the Former Tottenham Star & Where He’ll Play Next

Former England midfielder Dele Alli is back on the market after mutual consent ended his short-lived spell at Serie A side Como 1907 on 1 September. A joint club-player statement confirmed the contract termination just six weeks after his free-transfer arrival, during which the 29-year-old logged only 10 competitive minutes. Early exit in Italy • Alli debuted from the bench against Udinese on match-day 2 but failed to feature again. • Head coach Cesc Fàbregas reportedly told the former Tottenham talisman he was not in long-term plans, prompting swift negotiations to part ways. • Como thanked the player for “professionalism and commitment,” while Alli’s camp said he “remains determined to revive his career at the highest level.” Why it matters Alli’s release extends a dramatic slide that began after his £5 million switch from Spurs to Everton in 2022. Loan spells at Beşiktaş and injury setbacks plus off-field battles—highlighted in his candid 2023 interview about mental-health struggles—have left the once-explosive midfielder seeking a fifth club in four years. Career snapshot • 270+ senior games, 67 goals. • Two PFA Young Player of the Year awards (2016, 2017). • 37 England caps, 2018 World Cup semi-finalist. • Out of national-team picture since 2019. Where next for Dele Alli? Agents are already fielding enquiries from: 1. Promotion-chasing Championship sides needing creativity. 2. MLS franchises eyeing a marquee European name. 3. Middle-Eastern clubs prepared to match Premier-League-level wages. A Premier League return cannot be ruled out if incentives are appearance-based. Expert view Former England striker Jermain Defoe told BBC Radio 5 Live that Alli “still has the touch and vision—he just needs a manager prepared to rebuild his confidence”. What happens next • Free-agent window remains open in most leagues, allowing immediate registration. • Personal fitness programme already underway at a private training centre in Hertfordshire. • Expect a decision before the October international break to keep match sharpness. Key takeaway Dele Alli’s Como adventure may have lasted only a single cameo, but the mutual termination offers an unexpected reset. With age on his side and no transfer fee, the door is wide open for clubs willing to gamble on reigniting one of English football’s most mercurial talents.