As his former Tottenham Hotspur and England teammate Harry Kane claimed the Ballon d’Or, Dele Alli remains a free agent and looking for a club after being without one since leaving Como in the summer of 2025.

Dele Alli, alongside Kane, formed a part of an excellent attack for both Spurs and England through the mid-to-late-2010s and he looked as though he would go on to become a real star for years to come.

Having come through the academy at Milton Keynes Dons, Alli moved to Tottenham in 2015 and went on to make 269 appearances for the North Londoners, establishing himself as one of the brightest talents in the Premier League.

Injuries and off-the-field issues contributed to a steep and sharp decline at Spurs, though, before he was eventually moved on to Everton, then under the management of Frank Lampard, in January 2022.

Those off-field issues remained, though, with Alli leaving Goodison Park a year later to spend half a season on loan at Turkish giants Besiktas, where he did contribute and earn 15 appearances in Istanbul – more than his entire Everton career.

After injury and a lack of fitness, as well as those off-field issues, meant Alli spent a year without playing in his final season on Merseyside, he eventually earned himself a contract in Italy during the 2024-25 campaign.

Newly-promoted but big spending Como, who have since gone on to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, brought Alli into the club in February 2025 but he made just one appearance, two years after last playing for Besiktas, against AC Milan. However, he was sent off for a late tackle on his FIFA World Cup 2018 teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek at San Siro and then didn’t play again for the club before being released in September 2025.

Since then, Alli has been without a club and his tale is a sad one but one that, surely, has not yet concluded at the age of only 30.

What he chooses to do next remains to be seen but should he remain in football and work back to getting a club, we have taken a look at seven EFL clubs who should perhaps take a punt on the attacking midfielder.

Cardiff City

Following the appointment of Brian Barry-Murphy last summer, Cardiff City have opted to prioritise their impressive academy and the production of young talent in South Wales in order to build a foundation for their first-team.

Barry-Murphy’s fluent, possession-based style of football got The Bluebirds automatic promotion from League One in his debut campaign and, as they begin to settle into life back in the Championship, they may well fancy themselves to be capable of being an outside shot at the top eight and the expanded play-off spots.

A focus on youth and an energetic, mobile style of football may not be the ideal landing spot for a 30-year-old with one appearance in three and a half years but Cardiff has remained a place in which more experienced players have more than had their say under Barry-Murphy, such as Callum Robinson and David Turnbull.

That mix has been a positive one for Cardiff and throwing Dele Alli into the mix at a place where he would be nurtured and supported by an empathetic coach may well work for him, while also providing the South Walians with an unpredictable edge, too, in order to avert the risk of teams nullifying their passing style and giving the opposition an alternative concern.

Charlton Athletic

Getting back to playing in London may also be a draw for Dele Alli and therefore a move to Charlton Athletic could be something that marries up quite nicely.

The obvious and immediate concern would be the industrious nature of Nathan Jones’ style of football and just how much the former Southampton boss prioritises hard work and dedication to the cause over all else.

Dele Alli’s fitness was obviously an issue when still a professionally contracted player and so that would need immense work to meet Jones’ standards but what he would represent is added quality in the final third.

Frankly, who knows whether or not Alli will ever be able to replicate the technical quality and intelligence he once had in attack but Charlton have veered into such a desperate circumstances that taking a punt on him would be no bad thing.

As Charlton struggle for any source of creativity or attacking output, there can’t be too much risk to taking a gamble on bringing in the former England international to try and find some sort of spark at The Valley.

Luton Town

Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere was once himself a young England prodigy before injuries took over and eventually contributed to his decline from once being the future of club, Arsenal, and country.

Wilshere himself may therefore be someone more accommodating to finding a spot for another former starlet fallen on hard times, understanding that with an opportunity and the right environment, there could still be another chapter for Dele Alli just yet.

A move to Luton would represent a massive dip for Alli, dropping down into League One, but, again to be frank, we have reached a point where simply playing football on a regular basis wherever that may be must surely be towards the top of his list of wants.

Milton Keynes Dons

Another club that would be a step down but one that would represent an emotional reunion would be Milton Keynes Dons coming back in to restart Dele Alli’s career.

Following their promotion to League One last season after putting together something of an all-star squad for League Two level under the management of Paul Warne, MK Dons began this season poorly.

They have begun to find some form, though, with joint top scorer in the division Aaron Collins really beginning to flourish and the foundation is now laid for The Dons to kick on this season.

Like would be the case with others, the downside this may not be too great but the upside of a rare returning hero to Stadium: MK could be tantalising for both club and player.

Peterborough United

Another League One club that may well suit the trajectory of the Dele Alli story is Peterborough United – and another short trip from London, this time up into Cambridgeshire.

An element that cannot be ignored in a club potentially pursuing Dele Alli would be the desire for a bit of attention and the media spotlight, something that Posh owner and chairman Darragh MacAnthony is well verse in.

Under the management of Robbie Savage, Peterborough look set for a relegation battle this season, despite MacAnthony suggesting he would put his shares up for sale if the club aren’t in the top ten by February.

A few more risks, akin to that of former pundit and still current commentator Savage, may well need to be taken and a headline-grabbing signing such as Alli may well fit the bill – and if they can get anything out of him then it would also perhaps seem like a win-win deal.

Salford City

Salford City may have tried to loosen the celebritifcation of the club from the last decade or so but The Ammies remain a club with famous ownership and a fair bit of money to spend.

Salford have spent six years now knocking on the door of League Two promotion and, after a summer of even heavier spending, they have assembled what seemed on paper to be a dominant squad for the division and, after a slow start, they are now showing that.

Former Malaysia boss Peter Cklamovski was a surprise appointment and questions had to be raised about that initially, especially after their slow start, but he is beginning to now get better performances that match the dominance of their results since late-August.

Having taken a punt on the Australian, taking another headline-grabbing punt on rehabilitating Dele Alli and orchestrating his drop into League Two but potentially as the fulcrum of his and Salford’s ascent through the leagues could well be something to think about.

Wrexham

Throughout the Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds-owned era of Wrexham, there has been a mix of genuinely understanding football and the town as well as providing some glamour and obvious craving of media attention.

The headline-grabbing Red Dragons have risen from non-league to the cusp of the Championship play-offs and they have often done so by bringing in big names that were towards the end of their career but still way above the level they were brought in to play at.

That may not necessarily have been the case in the most recent summer transfer window but taking a punt on a big name star to provide a point of difference is well within their realm.