DELE ALLI is in line to return to action in the Premier League soon for Everton.
Dele, 28, is currently a free agent after his contract with the Toffees ran out in June.
The versatile midfielder spent the entirety of the previous campaign nursing a hamstring injury he suffered during his loan stint at Besiktas the season before.
The ex-England international – who has bravely opened up on his sleeping pill addiction and child abuse trauma – is still training with Sean Dyche’s first team even though he is not on the club’s books.
The ex-Tottenham star is trying to prove his fitness in order to earn a new contract with the Merseysiders.
Everton‘s Director of Football Kevin Thelwell suggested Dele could be on his way back to Dyche’s squad as both parties are keen on a deal.
The club has even reached an understanding with Spurs, with whom they had agreed on various bonuses when he swapped North London for Goodison Park in 2022.
Thelwell told BBC Sport: “We are in a good space now with Tottenham.
“We have an agreement with those guys about what happens next if we sign him and he would dearly love to play for Everton in the Premier League and we would dearly love that to happen as well because the boy has had a very difficult time.”
Dele has admitted he’s been dealing with a hard time the last few months due to his injury.
But the playmaker is adamant he is not finished as he “knows his level” and is determined to regain his old fitness in order to earn back a place in the England squad in time for the 2026 World Cup.
Dele previously said: “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’.
“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.”
Dele Alli Career Stats
Dele Alli has made quite an impact in the Premier League as the stats below show:
2011-2015: MK Dons – 44 apps – 8 goals – 4 assists
2015-2022: Tottenham – 269 apps – 67 goals – 58 assists
2015: MK Dons (Loan) – 44 apps – 16 goals – 11 assists
2022-2024: Everton – 13 apps – 0 goals – 0 assists
2022-2023: Besiktas (Loan) – 15 apps – 3 goals – 0 assists
2015-2019: England – 37 apps – 3 goals – 7 assists