Dele Alli has confirmed he is leaving Everton in an emotional social media post.
The former England international’s contract at Goodison Park expired in the summer but he continued to train with the club to return to full fitness.
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Alli has recently been linked with a move to Serie A newcomers Como, who are managed by former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
The 28-year-old further fueled rumors of a move to Italy by announcing his departure from Everton in an Instagram post on Friday.
In the post, he sincerely thanked Everton, its staff, players and fans for supporting him in his attempt to return to football, despite it not being officially on their books.
It said: “As detailed this week, 2025 could take me down a new path with some exciting possibilities.
“Before something like this happens, it is very important for me to make it clear how grateful I am to all Everton FC fans, staff and players for the support they have given me.
“It’s been an incredibly hard journey putting the final pieces together to get back to match fitness and I can’t thank the Everton staff enough for the hard work they’ve put into this process.
“Unfortunately it didn’t work out the way we all hoped and I think it’s the right time for me to start a new chapter.
“I wish everyone in this great club good luck and hope that we will see each other again soon.”
The attacking midfielder was one of English football’s brightest talents when he burst onto the scene at Tottenham in the 2015/16 season.
He then spent seven years in north London, scoring 67 goals and 58 assists in 269 appearances in all competitions.
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Alli was an integral part under then coach Mauricio Pochettino and was in the starting line-up in the 2019 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool.
But after Alli fell out of favor at Spurs and moved to Everton, things quickly turned sour for Alli.
Injuries hampered his time at Goodison Park and an unfortunate loan spell at Turkish giants Besiktas did little to help him return to form.
The 28-year-old later revealed in an interview that he became addicted to sleeping pills after his stay in Turkey and bravely spoke about his difficult childhood.
Alli recently revealed his aim to make a blockbuster comeback and is targeting a return to the England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Fabregas could be a key figure in making Alli realize his dream by luring him to Como, where the Spaniard also holds a position as a minority shareholder.
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The former Tottenham star was spotted in the stands at Como last Sunday during Como’s 2-0 win over Roma alongside a host of Hollywood stars including Keira Knightley, Adrien Brody and Michael Fassbender.
Asked about the possibility of Alli playing in Como, Fabregas said: “I met him yesterday.”
“I don’t want to talk about it much, but maybe there’s a chance he’ll start training with us after Christmas.”
“Let’s see. It would help him get in shape and nothing more.”
“Right now we have to enjoy this evening. We have to talk about Como, Gabrielloni and the boys. That’s the most important thing.”