Tottenham are aiming to strengthen their academy ranks after a disappointing season, and a new youth signing has now been completed.
Spurs have several top talents on the verge of a first-team breakthrough, but their Under-21 side endured a tough campaign last time out.
Thomas Frank will be aiming to improve the fortunes of the first team, but in the long run, the academy will need to improve if Tottenham are to use it to unearth gems.
Tottenham Under-21s finished 22nd in the Premier League 2 last season, with just six wins in 20 games, but reinforcements are now on the way.
Tottenham sign Max McFadden for academy
Spurs have now confirmed that they have signed teenager Max McFadden after he departed from newly promoted Premier League side Leeds United.
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The 19-year-old is a versatile attacking midfielder and was previously at Colchester United, West Ham and Southend United before ending up at Leeds.
In a club statement on Friday (4 July), Tottenham confirmed the arrival of the teenager on a two-year deal, with it also stated that he will join the Under-21 squad for next season.
McFadden will reunite with Archie Gray, with whom he was together within the academy ranks at Leeds before the latter joined Spurs last year.
Tottenham need to strengthen academy
Mikey Moore has broken into the first team, and the value of academy talents cannot be understated.
Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer, Harry Kane, was developed in the academy before he earned a first-team spot, and bringing youngsters through will have several benefits.
Talents can break through into the first-team, and either earn a starting spot, which would save Spurs millions, or can be sold for pure profit to be reinvested into the squad.
Signings like McFadden could help increase the quality of the Under-21s, which can then help the best talents thrive and earn a chance under Frank next season.
The former West Ham talent thrived for Leeds’ Under-19s, with 19 goal involvements in 35 games, and will hope to rediscover his attacking form at Spurs.