Tottenham wonderkid Dane Scarlett joins Portsmouth on season-long loan transfer to get 18-year-old first-team action
TOTTENHAM wonderkid Dane Scarlett has completed a loan to Portsmouth.
Scarlett, 18, has completed a move to the south coast side in a bid to earn good minutes and develop into a player who can challenge for a place in the Tottenham first team.
While the striker struggled for game-time last season, scoring just once as he moved in and out of the Tottenham senior squad, the season prior he enjoyed a great deal of success.
In the 20/21 season, Scarlett lit up the Under 18 Premier League as he struck 17 goals and four assists in just 16 games.
He added eight more goals to his season tally via Premier League 2 and the FA Youth Cup.
On the transfer, Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley said: “We’re delighted to have Dane with us and we’re really appreciative of Tottenham for trusting us to look after one of their young players.
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“There’s an intelligence beyond his years – both in and out of possession – with the timing of his runs and the movement that allows him to win space behind defenders.
“Dane has an infectious energy and I know that the staff at both Tottenham and the England set-up think the world of him.”
Former Tottenham, Man Utd and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho even tipped the teenager to be a “phenomenal” player for England in the future.
Speaking to The Times last year, the Roma boss said: “I know he’s still very young, just 17, and it is probably too early for the next World Cup.
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“But Tottenham Hotspur have a striker in Dane Scarlett, who, if everything goes well, is going to be phenomenal.”
Despite his promise, Spurs’ £60million acquisition of Richarlison would certainly see Scarlett’s game time at a senior level limited even further.
For Portsmouth the deal represents their ninth signing of the window, and their third signing in the striker department.
Pompey have already signed full-back Joe Rafferty from Preston, along with ex-Arsenal youngster Zak Swanson and Accrington striker Colby Bishop.
Goalkeeper Josh Griffiths and Joe Pigott have also joined the club on loan like Scarlett.
Portsmouth have reached the League One playoffs twice since promotion into the division in 2017.
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However, on both occasions they failed to make it past the semi-final stage.
The club will be hoping their new firepower, including Scarlett, can fire them to promotion into the Championship this time around.