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“To me, it was a no-brainer. On a couple of occasions, I really tried hard with the chairman to get the deal done, but it didn’t move too quick. Eventually, Daniel Levy rang me up and said….”- “You won’t believe what David Pleat REVEALED about what Levy told him amid Dele Alli’s Shock move to Spurs
The signing of Dele Alli by Tottenham in 2015 was a significant event for several reasons, and now David Pleat has opened up about the crucial role he played in securing that transfer.
Dele’s Bargain Move to Tottenham
At just 18 years old, Dele Alli joined Spurs for a reported £5 million in 2015. While the fee was considerable at the time—especially given his age and his playing experience in League One—it turned out to be a fantastic investment for the club.
Dele went on to make 269 appearances for Tottenham, scoring 67 goals and contributing 58 assists (according to Transfermarkt). He became one of the Premier League’s most exciting and dynamic young playmakers.
Pleat’s Role in the Transfer
In an interview with Sky Sports, former Tottenham scouting chief David Pleat discussed his involvement in making the deal happen. He recalled first seeing Dele play at the age of 16 and being immediately impressed by his athleticism, box-to-box ability, physicality, and technical skill on the ball. Pleat described the move as a “no-brainer.”
He went on to explain how he pushed for the signing: “I really tried hard with the chairman to get the deal done, but it didn’t move too quickly. Eventually, Daniel Levy called me and asked, ‘MK Dons are going to sell, would £5 million be too much?’ He wondered if it might be too high for a player at that level. I told him, ‘Take it, all day long.'”
The Truth Behind Transfers
Pleat also shed light on how transfer decisions are actually made. Contrary to the common belief that the chairman has the final say, Pleat revealed that it’s the bank manager who plays a pivotal role in the deal’s structure.
He explained: “No scout has the final decision. It’s not even the chairman. Ultimately, it’s the bank manager who decides. You go through various channels, and it’s eventually recommended to the chairman. They’ll hopefully back the manager if the funds are available. But in the end, the bank manager decides whether the payment is made in full or in installments. It’s a fascinating process.”
David Pleat’s Assessment
While Tottenham may not have turned a profit on the £5 million investment in Dele, there’s no denying that he was worth every penny. His time at Spurs may have ended on a sour note, but there’s still hope that he can rediscover his form and reach the heights he once promised.
