Tottenham Hotspur have once again allowed an up and coming teenage prospect to complete a permanent move to QPR.
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QPR have confirmed the signing of Tottenham Hotspur teenager goalkeeper Charlie Warren, who is set to link up with the R’s Development Squad after 10 years in the north London club’s academy.
Warren spent a short trial period with the R’s towards the end of the 2024/25 season and has now made that move permanent as the Championship outfit look to plan for the future. Spurs have been wrapped up in a managerial debacle but it could come to be the case that those discussions have led to a blinkered transfer strategy.
While there was no real likelihood of Warren impacting Thomas Frank’s first team in the near future, the decision to allow a teenager leave the club after so much time invested in his development reeks of something that happened 12 months ago.
Tottenham Hotspur risk repeating transfer error
QPR midfielder Kieran Morgan made the switch to Loftus Road last summer. Also 18 years at the time, the midfielder initially joined the Development Squad but took no time to be called into the first team.
Morgan was called up by October and had scored his first goal in his second outing against Coventry City, picking up a point for Marti Cifuentes’ side. He went on to make 31 first team appearances in his first season, well ahead of his planned development.
Letting the teenager leave for free was a stinking error from Spurs. Still just 19 years old, Morgan has become one of the Championship’s most exciting products. With a couple more years of first team football, he could well be sold for millions.
It’s too early to predict such an impact for Warren, but the signs of him following in Morgan’s footsteps and making Spurs regret their decision are there. With his transfer announced, he told the club website: “I'm really pleased and I can't wait to get started. It was good to be involved with the boys towards the end of last season, obviously with the (Premier League) Cup win. The feel around the training ground and within the squad was really, really positive. So that's what I want to be part of next season and kick on from there.
"I think the pathway is really good here. That's the most important thing when picking out a club as a young player. It's obvious how the ethos is to use young players and push young players. That's what you want to hear and what you want to see as a youngster.
"I am really good friends with Kieran. Speaking to him, he influenced my decision as well. Obviously, he's done really well here. He's the model - it shows there is a really good pathway here and us other young players want to try to replicate that."
‘Remember this name’: Warren arrives at Loftus Road
Having already impressed at QPR, Warren arrives with plenty of hype too. The Southern Football League published a report on the player’s development in November under the headline ‘remember this name’. On loan at Barton Rovers, the shot-stopper was said to be ‘lighting up the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central’ having helped the team to an eight-game unbeaten run.
Speaking about the signing, QPR CEO Christian Nourry said: "Charlie is an exciting goalkeeping prospect with very strong ball-playing qualities.
"His arrival is the latest recompense for our staff who have so enthusiastically embraced the changes in pathway philosophy that is now seeing some of the brightest Category One prospects highly value interest from QPR."
In other news, QPR hint on Marti Cifuentes future as Preston North Ends applauded for Charlton Athletic coup.