Chadder View: Destiny Udogie extension is best bit of Tottenham business in years
Matthew Chadder is a lifelong Tottenham fan who grew up just down the road from his beloved club in North London. He’s now putting his passion for Spurs into words with a daily fan view for Tottenham News…
Tottenham have the most exciting young left-back in Europe locked in until 2030.
At the beginning of the season, I was sceptical about Udogie. He was signed as a left-wing back to play under Antonio Conte before being sent back out on loan, and after a messy season, he all of a sudden arrived in north London tasked with playing in a back-four under a completely different manager than the one who had brought him to the club.
From what I had seen of him in the Serie A – which was limited, admittedly – I wasn’t sure if he would be up to scratch defensively to handle the responsibilities a left-back playing in Europe’s most intense league has to handle.
Well, how wrong I was. Not only has the 21-year-old passed most of his defensive tests with flying colours, but he has slotted seamlessly into Ange Postecoglou’s way of playing, which sometimes sees him push into midfield as high as a ten.
In my experience of watching football, I am not sure I have ever seen a young player from a league overseas arrive in the Premier League and thrive so quickly. He has taken to life in England like a duck to water, and it has been an absolute joy to watch.
He has quickly become one of my favourite Tottenham players, and his brilliance has been underlined by his new contract with the club, a contract which effectively keeps him in north London until the beginning of the next decade, which sounds crazy to write or read.
Signing a new long-term deal just three short months after making his debut demonstrates how impressive he has been, and I cannot wait to see what is next for the young Italian.
His new contract arrives just a couple of days after he scored his first goal for the club, which makes it all the more fitting. Now, while the player of course deserves the majority of the praise for his performances on the pitch, this bit of business is deserving of a shoutout for those higher up at the club as well.
Locking down a young talent to a long-term deal such as this one is fantastic forward-thinking. They have seen the gem they have on their hands and decided to act swiftly to ensure they do not lose him anytime soon.
Udogie’s previous contract already ran until 2027, four years from now, but Tottenham decided that this was not enough and have made sure to extend his deal for a minimum of at least two more years, with the option of a third.
It is a deal which will keep Udogie at Hotspur Way until he is at least 27, which means there would still be plenty of time for a new contract or two after that should he continue to perform at the level he has been performing at so far.
As excited as I am to continue watching the 21-year-old’s development as a footballer, I am even more excited that this development will be made in a Spurs shirt.
In other Tottenham news, the club could take a punt on a Premier League defender after his recent impressive displays.