20yo who signed a professional contract in 2024 set to leave Tottenham as academy pathway questions remain unanswered

‘This’ Tottenham youngster is set to depart the club after the season ends.

Leo Black is set to be released by Tottenham Hotspur when his contract expires at the end of the season, with analyst John Wenham confirming he has been told the 20-year-old will not be retained, bringing an end to what has been a lengthy and committed association with the club’s academy.

Black made 83 appearances for Tottenham’s youth sides, starting 41 of those matches and contributing four goals and six assists across his time in the development system. He signed a professional contract in March 2024 after impressing regularly for the Under-18s, and was once regarded highly within Hotspur Way as a versatile talent capable of operating as a midfielder or an inverted right back. Despite that promise, the opportunity to make the step up to first-team football never materialised.

Wenham, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, delivered the verdict matter-of-factly while acknowledging the personal dimension of the situation. He said:

“From what I’m hearing, Leo Black is going to be released this summer, but good for his confidence and good to help him pick up another club. His contract is certainly up, and from what I was told, he hasn’t been retained.”

The news raises broader questions about Tottenham’s approach to their academy and the pathway they offer young players into the senior side. Black is not the first promising development player to depart without a first-team opportunity, and the pattern raises legitimate concerns about whether the club is doing enough to give its most talented youngsters a genuine chance rather than investing heavily in senior signings who frequently fail to deliver.

The likes of Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear, and Alfie Devine represent the next generation of homegrown talent that Roberto De Zerbi and his staff must find a way to integrate into the first-team picture. Moore has been outstanding on loan at Rangers, Lankshear won the Golden Boot and Young Player of the Year award at Oxford United, and Devine continues to develop steadily. All three deserve a clearer pathway than the one currently available.

Black will attract decent offers

For Black specifically, the departure need not define him. A player who made 83 appearances for Tottenham’s youth sides and earned a professional contract will attract interest from clubs at a decent level, and a fresh start away from the pressure of trying to break through at a Premier League club could be exactly what he needs to fulfil the potential that once made him a highly regarded prospect at Hotspur Way. His commitment to the club across the years will not be forgotten by those who watched him develop, and he leaves with the goodwill of everyone connected to the academy.