View: George Abbott is a Tottenham player to watch for the future
George Abbott made his first-team debut for Tottenham coming on as a substitute against Leeds United in his team’s 4-1 victory on the final day of the Premier League season.
Despite only being on the field for one minute during his debut, the defensive-minded 17-year-old got stuck in straight away, making an interception and playing an accurate pass during his minimal time on the pitch, (SofaScore).
The England Under-18 has made 28 appearances for Tottenham’s academy this season, featuring predominantly in the Premier League Under-18’s, as per transfermrkt.
Abbot now has two seasons of academy football under his belt, having burst onto the scene during the 2021/22 season, making 13 appearances in the Under-18’s Premier League, mostly as a defensive midfielder. He scored twice and provided an assist during this first season.
The player is clearly versatile, having featured in various positions for the youth teams, playing predominantly as a right-back during the 2022/23 campaign, but also featuring as a centre-back, left-back, and defensive midfielder.
Bright future
Abbot has clearly impressed those higher up at the club and made a strong impression. To feature in the first-team picture as a 17-year-old is always a promising sign with so many youngsters often struggling to make the jump up.
Any experience he can get at a senior level will only be beneficial for the London-born academy player. Over the years, Spurs have produced some top academy talent, Harry Kane being the obvious example, however, there has also been a slow-down.
It is hard to think of a notable recent example of a young Tottenham player who has come through the academy and really nailed down a position in the first-team squad. Spurs have made the mistake of letting a lot of these players go, Marcus Edwards and Noni Madueke being examples of young players who have left the club and flourished.
The club will want to do right by Abbot who will be hoping he can follow in the footsteps of a Kane and start to bridge that gap next season after his 18th birthday. With a new manager in charge, there will surely be plenty of opportunities to impress.
In other Tottenham news, Ange Postecoglou’s arrival might benefit a particular Spurs defender.