Eric Dier delivers verdict on Dele Alli’s Besiktas transfer as former Tottenham star scores first goal

Jonathan Gorrie4 September 2022

Eric Dier has revealed Dele Alli is “happy to have a new challenge” after his former Tottenham teammate’s shock move to Besiktas.

The 26-year-old failed to settle at Everton after leaving Spurs for Goodison Park in January and was allowed to move to the Istanbul giants on a free transfer.

Moving to the Turkish Super Lig before the age of 30, plenty had been made of the former England international’s supposed fall from grace. With a World Cup on the horizon, Dele’s influential role during the run to the semi-finals in Russia four years ago seems like a different lifetime.

Still, Dier has backed his former teammate, a player he developed a close bond with during their together in north London, to succeed in Turkish football.

Dele scored his first goal for Besiktas during a 3-2 win away at Ankaragucu and Dier believes a fresh challenge could help revitalise his career.

“I spoke to him after his first game,” revealed Dier.

“I think he is happy to have a new challenge, somewhere fresh. I think he is excited by a new experience from a life point of view as well and all I heard were positive things from him.

“He is young. 26. I think we all know in football things can change very quickly for anyone at any time so everything is possible. It is just up to us as individuals.”

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