Dele Alli has thanked Everton for the support they have shown him during a difficult few months.
The midfielder has sat down with Gary Neville for his The Overlap YouTube channel and has opened up on one of the toughest periods of his life after enduring a dramatic downfall on the pitch.
Formerly one of the country’s biggest prospects after joining Tottenham Hotspur from MK Dons, Dele’s decline in form saw him join Everton on an initial free transfer in January 2022.
The 27-year-old was unable to impress on Merseyside and was sent out on loan for another disastrous spell at Besiktas, where his time was cut short after picking up an injury.
While coming under heavy scrutiny from fans and pundits, Dele has now revealed that he had chosen to enter a mental health rehab facility over the summer after discovering he would need surgery on the injury that brought him back to England.
Dele spent six weeks in the facility as he looked to improve his mental health and has now praised Everton for supporting him through it.
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“I was caught in a bad cycle and I was relying on things that were doing me harm,” Dele told Neville.
“I was waking up every day and I was winning the fight, going into training and smiling, but inside I was definitely losing the battle and it was time for me to change it.
“I didn’t want it to happen anymore so I went there for six weeks and Everton were amazing about it.
“They supported me 100%. I’ll be grateful for them forever.
“Whatever happens in the future – for them to be so open and honest and understanding… I couldn’t have asked for anymore when I was probably making the biggest decision of my life.”
Is Dele Alli ready to redeem himself at Everton?
Dele Alli’s revelation on The Overlap comes as little surprise given how difficult the past few years have been for him.
The former England international went from being one of the most exciting players in the world to someone that barely looked good enough in Turkey.
Dele’s willingness to speak about this tough time on a platform for millions of people to see shows how far he has come and it makes it clear that he is ready to move past it all and try to get back to his best.
The midfielder is yet to impress at Goodison Park, however fans need to get behind him and show their support just like the club have.