Dele Alli signs new 5-year Tottenham deal

Tottenham Hotspur breakthrough star Dele Alli has signed a new five-year contract tying him to White Hart Lane until 2021, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.
Alli, 19, joined Spurs in a £5 million ($7.2 million, 6.7 million euros) move from third-tier Milton Keynes Dons last year and has made a stunning impact, scoring five goals in 18 Premier League appearances this season.

The versatile central midfielder has also been capped by England and scored his first international goal in November's 2-0 friendly win over France at Wembley.

"I'm delighted. The club's been really great to me since I've come here," Alli said in a video interview published on the Tottenham website.

"We've got a great, young team and I see us going forward, so I'm happy to be here."

Alli signed for Tottenham from his home-town club MK Dons in January 2015 and was loaned back to the League One side for the remainder of last season before linking up with Spurs during the close season.

He made his debut against Manchester United on the season's opening day and has made 26 appearances in all competitions.

Initially deployed alongside Eric Dier as a holding midfielder, Alli has been used in a number 10 role by manager Mauricio Pochettino in recent weeks.

"It's very good news for us and for him. After the last six months, Dele deserves to improve his salary and his contract," Pochettino told a press conference on Tuesday.

"He has achieved the level of his team-mates and now he is international and plays regularly in the first team. He deserves all he takes now."

Alli is expected to be included in Roy Hodgson's England squad for this year's European Championship in France and may yet begin the tournament as a member of the starting XI.
Source: AFP