Tottenham Hotspur

After a steady start to life in north London following his arrival from Swedish side Djurgarden on 1 July, the 19-year-old has since developed into a standout performer during the second half of the season with his talent, tenacity and boundless energy in midfield really shining through.

Since his debut at Leicester City in our opening game of the 2024/25 season, the Sweden international, who was rewarded with a new deal last month, has gone on to make 45 appearances in all competitions to date and opened his account with the match-winner in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January.

With 11 starts in his 34 Premier League appearances, our number 15's most prominent role has come on our run to the UEFA Europa League Final where we now face Manchester United in Bilbao on 21 May. In his first taste of European competition, Lucas started 10 out of 12 fixtures and in each knockout round until an ankle injury ruled him out of the semi-finals against Bodø/Glimt.

Watch - Lucas scores his first Spurs goal

Supporters Club Members were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience on Wednesday (14 May) when they got the chance to meet and watch our Men’s First Team players train.

Thanks to Kraken, the Club's first-ever Official Crypto and Web3 Partner, and the Official Sleeve Partner for its Men's and Women's teams, Supporters Club members from 20 Clubs were able to meet the Men’s First Team squad and watch them take part in their morning training session.

Ange Postecoglou expects Dejan Kulusevski will be out of action for 'at least' the next few months.

After being forced off in Sunday's Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace with discomfort in his knee, it was confirmed on Wednesday (14 May) that Deki had undergone surgery on his right patella.

It was also confirmed that Dejan would commence an immediate period of recovery and rehabilitation with our medical staff before his return to action.

Asked about the injury to the forward in his pre Aston Villa press conference on Thursday afternoon, Ange has now provided further details on the extent of the injury and how long he understands the Sweden international will be away from the pitch.

"It’s obviously disappointing news," our Head Coach began. "Initially we thought it wasn’t too serious because obviously the medical team were worried about how the knee was structurally, but it seemed pretty good.

"But then it kind of blew up a day after and so we knew there was an issue there. He’s had surgery and it will put him out at least for a few months."

Asked if Deki would be back and available for selection come the start of the 2025/26 season in August, later this year, Ange said, "We’ll see. I’ve only got basic information in terms of recovery but it will certainly put him out for a while."

Asked further about Deki later in the press conference, Ange added: "Yes, gutted for him, Lucas, Madders and Radu, because, all four of those, it's not like - knock on wood, because we've had enough of those - but it's not like a muscle injury or anything. It's just circumstance, stuff that probably happens in every football game, but it doesn't have the damage that it did and unfortunately for them it came at the wrong time of the year.

"I thought there was real growth in Deki this year. We integrated him into a new position which I think he was really getting to grips with and really making an impact, he captained his country and then got hit with a foot injury which set him back. Typical of him, he worked hard at rehab and was really important for us away at Bodo and started looking like he was getting back to himself, which would have been great for us, so for him to get another setback is is disappointing. Mentally, he's a very strong guy and I'm sure he'll use this as a catalyst to come back stronger."

Ange Postecoglou says Heung-Min Son will play 'at least half' of our Premier League clash against Aston Villa on Friday evening (7.30pm UK).

Out from 10 April until 11 May due to a foot issue, missing seven games, the skipper stepped back into action off the bench after 58 minutes against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Ange will now look to step up Sonny's return stint in our penultimate Premier League match of 2024/25 at Villa Park, with the UEFA Europa League Final against Manchester United also now less than a week away (21 May, 8pm UK).

Speaking to the media at Hotspur Way on Thursday, Ange said: "Sonny will definitely play tomorrow, whether or not we start with him, I'll have a look at, but he reacted well to playing the other day, no issues with his foot, he's trained well and it makes sense for him to get more match minutes. It could be as a starter, if not, he'll definitely play at least half the game."

As Sonny makes his way back, Ange confirmed Dejan Kulusevski would be out for 'at least a few months' after undergoing knee surgery on Wednesday. Deki joins James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, Radu Dragusin and Dane Scarlett on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Ange confirmed that Timo Werner is also out with a hamstring injury.

With tickets now on sale for the live screening of our UEFA Europa League Final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday 21 May, we can update that additional screens will be placed on the pitch to further enhance the fan experience at this special event.

Please note, the on-pitch setup will differ from what was seen at our live screening of the UEFA Champions League Final in 2019 – the Club has endeavoured to source an array of lightweight screens, cognisant of the fact we have a home Premier League match on the pitch the following Sunday.

The additional screens, along with the stadium’s four existing giant HD screens and concourse TVs in all areas, will display TNT Sport’s live coverage of the final, including all the build-up, post-match reaction and trophy presentation.

Season Ticket Holders (including 1882), One Hotspur Members and Premium Members are now able to purchase up to four tickets each. General admission tickets for this event are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for juniors (under 18).

All tickets for the screening will be issued as digital tickets. Digital passes will not be in operation for this event.

Enhance your experience for the screening and explore a range of premium hospitality options with prices starting from £20.00 per person. Choose an experience that is suited to your preferences via the link below.

We shall be opening all areas of the stadium at 6pm, two hours ahead of the 8pm (UK time) kick-off in Bilbao.

Food and drink will be available to purchase throughout the evening from our bars and food outlets, which will be open from 6pm. Supporters will be able to bring alcoholic drinks into the stadium bowl.

Our usual matchday security procedures and bag policy will be in place for the screening. We encourage fans to arrive as early as possible – and strongly advise against arriving any later than 7.30pm – to leave enough time to clear security and avoid busy transport times.

Supporters wishing to purchase a copy of the official UEFA Europa League final matchday programme can do so from the Tottenham Experience and the stadium’s concourses.

Last orders will be at 10.15pm ahead of all outlets closing at 10.30pm and the stadium itself closing at 11pm.

Fans are politely reminded that entering the pitch is not permitted under any circumstances.

We look forward to seeing fans of all ages come together at our home stadium to cheer on the team from afar for what promises to be a momentous occasion in the Club’s history.

We’re set to take on Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao, Spain on Wednesday 21 May.

Here’s all the key info you need to know as we look to secure a first European title since 1984...

Where is the UEFA Europa League Final taking place?

The match will be held at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.

The 53,000-capacty venue is the home ground of Athletic Club, who were defeated in the semi-finals of this tournament by Manchester United.

The stadium also hosted the UEFA Women’s Champions League final last year.

What time is kick-off against Manchester United?

The showpiece match gets underway at 9pm local time, which equates to 8pm in the UK.

How can I watch the game?

Successful ticket applicants for this match have been informed. Tickets were available to Season Ticket Holders via a ticket application process. All Season Ticket Holders were contacted by email with information on how to apply.

We’ll be hosting a live screening of the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, tickets for which are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for juniors (under 18). This represents a fantastic way for our fans to come together and watch the game live in N17, similar to a normal home matchday. Food and drink will be available to purchase throughout the evening from our bars and food outlets, which will be open from 6pm UK. Find out more here.

The match will be televised live in the UK on TNT Sports 1.

You can also follow all the action via the Spurs Official app and here on tottenhamhotspur.com, as our Match Centre brings you live text and audio commentary plus stats, pictures and more.

What is the team news?

The latest team news, as of Wednesday evening, surrounds Dejan Kulusevski.

It has been confirmed that the Sweden international suffered an injury to his right patella in our Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace last weekend and, following further specialist consultation, has undergone surgery.

Heung-Min Son marked his return to action from a foot injury against Palace but James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Radu Dragusin are out for the season.

Dragusin is ineligible for the knockout stages of the Europa League anyway alongside Fraser Forster, Antonin Kinsky, Sergio Reguilon and Timo Werner.

Ange Postecoglou is expected to provide further team news updates as we get closer to the match.

Jonny Evans and Toby Collyer are back in training for Manchester United, while Diogo Dalot was reportedly undertaking individual work on Wednesday.

Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Matthijs de Ligt are not believed to have trained on Wednesday, with United boss Ruben Amorim saying: “I don’t know if they are going to be available. We are going to try to push because it’s the final matches and this is a final, you know that. All the players want to play that really bad. I don’t know, I think they will not go to Chelsea (on Friday), but we will have a possibility to have some of them for the final. Dalot is trying really bad. We will see, but he’s working really hard to get in the final.”

Who is the referee?

German referee Felix Swayer will take charge of the final.

He’ll be assisted by Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz, with Maurizio Mariani as the fourth official.

Bastian Dankert will be on VAR duties along with assistant Benjamin Brand.

What colours will the teams be playing in?

Details on both teams’ kit colours will be confirmed in due course.

What will the weather conditions be like?

The forecast currently shows light rain for most of Wednesday, including into the evening. Temperatures should be around 15 degrees during the game.

How can I get the matchday programme and what’s included?

UEFA have produced an official matchday programme for the final, which will be available at San Mamés Stadium on the night of the game.

Copies will also be on sale from the Spurs Shop at the Tottenham Experience and via our stadium’s concourse retail outlets for those attending the live screening at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They can also be ordered online here for delivery direct to your door.

The programme is priced at £10.

What is the travel information if I’m going to the game?

Travel information will be available soon for supporters making the trip to Bilbao in person.

Fans making the journey to Birmingham on Friday evening for our Premier League encounter against Aston Villa should take note of the following information...

Kick-off at Villa Park is set for 7.30pm, with gates opening at 6pm.

The hosts have provided the following comprehensive guidance here which is specifically designed for away supporters.

Getting to Villa Park

If travelling by train, away fans are advised to travel to Witton, which is the nearest station to the away end. In addition to regular services from Birmingham New Street, Witton station offers park & ride possibilities north of Villa Park on the Walsall line.

For full timetable information, please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.networkwestmidlands.com and check before you travel.

Tickets remain available for our official coach service and are priced at £42 with further information below:

Departure times:

Coaches will depart post-match for the return journey at 9.45pm, with tickets available here.

For travel to and from Birmingham city centre, an express city centre shuttle bus connects to Villa Park on matchdays. The pick-up point in Birmingham city centre is at Dudley Street, close to Birmingham New Street station. The shuttle buses can be used by home and away fans. A return ticket for the shuttle bus is £5 and single tickets will be available for £3. A discounted group return ticket is also available for £15.

Those driving should note that there is a Traffic Exclusion Zone (TEZ) around Villa Park on a matchday from two hours prior to kick-off and for 30-60 minutes after the final whistle, which will affect Witton Lane and Trinity Road.

Enforced residents’ parking zones are also in operation on matchdays. Fans should avoid parking in residential areas as this will incur a fine and should instead use official car parks. Please note that delays when exiting these car parks post-match are likely.

Alternative car parking options are available to book in advance here.

Entering the stadium

Away supporters will be located within the northeast corner of the Doug Ellis Stand. The allocation is split into two areas with upper tier and lower tier tickets available. If seated within the Doug Ellis Upper, which is accessed by 64 steps, please use turnstiles P87-P89. Due to the size of the concourse, please note that alcohol will not be served in the upper tier.

Fans should also note that major construction works are currently taking place around the north stand car park, Club shop and FanZone area.

Bag Policy

Only bags of A4 size (297mm x 210mm) or smaller will be permitted into Villa Park and all bags will be examined by a steward. There are no bag storage facilities at the stadium and supporters are encouraged to leave bags at home where possible.

Accessibility

An access guide for disabled supporters can be found here.

Wheelchair spaces are found in Block Q of the Doug Ellis Stand. Supporters with tickets within the accessible area should access the stadium via Gate 28, which is located next to the visitors’ ticket office and general admission turnstiles.

As these positions are pitchside, please note that there is little cover from inclement weather. Waterproof ponchos can be provided, subject to availability, and supporters are advised to check the weather forecast before travelling and plan accordingly.

Ambulant disabled supporters will be located in the front rows of Block Q of the Doug Ellis Stand and will need to be comfortable managing eight steps at the vomitory to reach the front row from the concourse area. Lifts via the accessible entrance are available if step-free access is required.

Accessible toilets are available and supporters without their own RADAR key will be able to request assistance from a steward.

Disabled Supporter Assistants will be present in accessible viewing areas along with Tottenham Hotspur Access Stewards should any support be required.

Visiting supporter pub

The Club has been advised that the dedicated pub for away supporters is The Tennis Court which is located on Walsall Road and is a 35-minute walk from the ground. Alternatively, fans are advised to utilise the venues within the city centre, as many pubs closer to the ground will not welcome away supporters.

Ticket collection

Fans collecting tickets should head to the Visitors’ Ticket Office on Witton Lane opposite the away coach park. This will open at 6pm, closing just after kick-off. Uncollected tickets then available from the enquiry window at the Villa Village ticket office located in the North Stand car park.

Duplicate tickets must be requested by emailing ticket.office@tottenhamhotspur.com and will only be provided on production of valid photo ID.

Refreshments

Concourse catering facilities are available within the stadium. Please note that alcohol will only be served within the Lower Doug Ellis Stand.

Cashless payments

Villa Park is a cashless venue. All major debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted.

Programmes

The official matchday programme is priced at £4. It is recommended that fans wishing to purchase a programme do so from the official programme kiosks located on Witton Lane before entering the stadium.

We can confirm that Dejan Kulusevski suffered an injury to his right patella in our Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Following further specialist consultation, the midfielder has undergone surgery today (Wednesday) and will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff immediately.

Ben Davies is daring to dream.

The longest-serving player of the current squad, and just three appearances from becoming our record holder in Europe, the defender has pretty much seen it all in both domestic and European competition since joining us from Swansea in the summer of 2014.

That includes some near misses – the 2019 Champions League Final, League Cup Finals in 2015 and 2021 and five semi-finals that haven’t gone our way – and now, as he sits on 356 appearances and approaches 11 years at the club, he’s there again, just over a week away from the UEFA Europa League Final against Manchester United in Bilbao (21 May).

Had he allowed himself the thought of getting his hands on the trophy? “Yes, I’m not one of those who will try to push it away,” he said. “If anything, you can try to manifest it if you think about the good things, so that’s what I’m sticking to.

“It would be incredible, something… having been involved in a lot of European competitions, you realise how hard it is. To get over the line this time, it would mean so much.

“The teams we’ve had, the players we’ve had, we’ve all dreamt of this but just fallen short. Now we have the chance to do something special, to change the narrative, and we’re all hoping we can do that.”

Now 32, capped 94 times by Wales, with three major tournaments under his belt, including the 2022 World Cup, Ben’s role within the squad has changed over the years. “It’s like a mentor role,” he explained. “I speak to a lot of the boys now about their feelings going into games, after games and sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture and realise for some of these guys the pressure and anxiety that can bring can really challenge them. I’m a calm head who has experienced it and knows you always have the chance to rectify things in the next game.

“It’s a great group. Everyone has gone through highs and lows this season. It’s been really tough at times and, sometimes, that can really bring you together. I’m hoping for one more time it will be a big high.”

A brave young Spurs fan had a heartwarming encounter with some of his heroes during a special visit to our Training Centre.

Ryley Keys, eight, was born with cerebral palsy after a premature birth and was told he would never walk. But thanks to his incredible determination and commitment he disproved this diagnosis and first came to our attention in 2022 when a video of him scoring a goal in his back garden went viral.

Following that video, Ben Davies and Joe Rodon surprised him at his home and invited Ryley to take a half-time penalty kick at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during our 3-0 win against Arsenal in May of that year. Ryley also had a chat with Sonny on FaceTime from his home, showing off his own ‘camera’ celebration that our captain is renowned for.

Three years on, we invited Ryley back to our Training Centre with his family to reunite again with Ben, where the defender checked in on his progress and talked with Ryley about the importance of resilience on his journey.

And this encounter was made even more special as Ryley got to meet Sonny in person after he dropped in on their chat – much to the young fan’s astonishment and excitement. Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur and Mathys Tel also dropped by to say hello during a day Ryley will never forget.

He said: "I really had the best day of my life meeting the players. I cheer on Ben, Sonny & all the team at every home game, and now I want to make the players proud of me by working extra hard so they can see my improvement."

Ryley’s mum, Sarah, added: "To see the look on Ryley’s face meeting the players – especially Sonny – was so emotional. Since birth he has been through so much and he’s remained strong throughout. What we take for granted every day is a challenge for Ryley. Seeing his improvement over the past three years is inspiring as his parents because he’s overcoming challenges in life on a daily basis.

"Ryley lives and breathes Spurs, so having the opportunity to talk to Ben goes a long way to motivate him as he sees these players as his heroes. Thank you again to Tottenham Hotspur for giving Ryley this opportunity, it’s one he for sure will never ever forget."

Ben Davies said: "It was great to see Ryley, he seems to be absolutely flying, progressing so much, it really is amazing to see – he is a real inspiration to us all. It is not easy what he is going through, but to keep pushing and seeing him do what he is doing – it is really special."

Ryley has outgrown his wheelchair and had his physio removed, now learning to walk without this safety net. He regularly falls and even broke his nose recently, yet rarely misses a home match, underlining his exceptional courage in this battle.

You can follow Ryley’s journey here: https://www.instagram.com/the_life_of_ryley_/?__d=11