Tottenham Hotspur are making a name for themselves as a club that gives youth a chance, both in terms of signings and academy graduates.
The likes of Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have all joined Spurs in recent years and are firmly in the first-team picture.
Tottenham academy graduates Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear are also in the senior setup this season.
Meanwhile, the likes of Jamie Donley and Alfie Devine could well break into the first-team in years to come.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou recently said there are more youngsters in the Spurs academy ranks who look like they have bright futures ahead.
Now, a 19-year-old winger plying his trade for Tottenham’s Under-21s may have just staked a claim as the next potential star to emerge from the academy.
On Friday, Yusuf Akhamrich grabbed the spotlight with a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Middlesbrough U21s in the Premier League 2.
Yusuf Akhamrich: ‘Skilful’ winger who signed first Tottenham professional contract in March 2024
Akhamrich is a versatile player who can operate on both the left wing and the right flank, as well as at left-back.
The 19-year-old was born in London on 5 September 2005 and grew up in Tower Hamlets, going to school in Bethnal Green.
Akhamrich earned a full promotion to the Under-21s over the summer, not long after signing his first professional contract at Tottenham.
In 2023/24, Akhamrich was part of Tottenham’s Under-17 and Under-18 Premier League Cup double-winning squad.
He has four goals and one assist from nine Premier League 2 outings this term, plus an assist from three EFL Trophy appearances.
Akhamrich, who Superhotspur has described as a ‘skilful winger’, has also won call-ups to Morocco’s U20 squad.
Akhamrich could also be spotted in training for Tottenham’s first-team squad ahead of their win over Manchester City.
Trickle could become flood as Tottenham pathway now clearer
In previous years, few Tottenham academy players made the breakthrough to the first team.
Aside from Harry Kane, only the likes of Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks clocked up significant amounts of game time for Spurs’ senior side.
However, with Postecoglou eager to give youth a chance, this will hopefully change as the pathway to Tottenham’s first team becomes clearer.
Hopefully this trickle of Spurs academy players breaking – and staying – in the first team will become a flood.
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