Goal crisis & in drop zone – so why is Spurs’ £60m striker stuck in U21s?
Richarlison’s goal for Tottenham’s under-21s has highlighted his fall from Brazil international and £60m signing to a player excluded from Spurs’ Premier League squad. The decision is under scrutiny as Tottenham have scored only three league goals and sit second bottom, while the forward was their leading scorer last season.
The 29-year-old scored from open play and in a shootout against Cheltenham, though Spurs’ reserves lost after a 2-2 draw. He has made one Premier League appearance this season and was omitted after a proposed return to Everton collapsed; a later move to Vasco da Gama also fell through. Richarlison has scored 27 league goals in 103 appearances for Spurs, including 11 in 32 matches last season.
- Richarlison scored for Spurs’ under-21s after being left out of the league squad.
- Tottenham have scored just three Premier League goals this season.
- Failed moves to Everton and Vasco da Gama left him at Spurs.
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Tottenham Hotspur signed Brazilian forward Richarlison from Everton in 2022 for a reported £60m. He has scored 27 league goals in 103 appearances for the club, and was their leading scorer last season with 11 goals.
Premier League clubs name a squad for each season, and players left out of it cannot play in the league unless a place becomes available. Richarlison has made one league appearance this season; proposed moves back to Everton and to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama did not go ahead.
Tottenham have scored three league goals and are second bottom, so the use of a forward with a recent record of scoring has drawn attention. His situation matters to the club as it tries to improve its results, and to Richarlison as he seeks a route back into regular first-team football.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Keeping Richarlison out of the Premier League squad may reflect a considered judgement about form, fitness or tactical fit, rather than his transfer fee or past reputation. With limited squad places, Spurs may prefer options they believe better suit the manager’s plans, while using under-21 matches to help him maintain sharpness if a move or return to contention remains possible.
The case against
Leaving out a forward who was the club’s leading scorer last season looks hard to justify when Spurs are struggling to score and have managed only three league goals. His recent under-21 goals and record of 11 league goals in 32 appearances last season strengthen the case that he could offer useful attacking depth, and excluding him may weaken the team while doing little to resolve his uncertain future.