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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Jack Grealish responds to Dele Alli's Tottenham exit after sealing Everton transfer

Jack Grealish was among a number of stars to flood Dele Alli's Instagram comments with praise after he said his goodbyes to Tottenham following confirmation of his switch to Everton.

Alli has been in north London since the summer of 2015 , playing a crucial part in some stunning Champions League nights as Spurs made their way to the final in 2019.

His time at Spurs saw the England international initially regarded as one of the most promising midfielders of his generation, but the standard of his performances has undeniably dropped in recent seasons.

As such, Spurs saw fit to sanction the midfielder's departure mid-way through this season after Everton declared their interest, sealing a deal that takes him to Merseyside initially for nothing, but which could eventually cost £40million.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Were Spurs right to let Dele Alli leave in January? Comment below

Dele Alli bid farewell to Spurs fans via Instagram on Tuesday after seven years at the club (Getty Images)

"It’s the end of a chapter but not the book...Thank you all for the messages. I’ve had an incredible 7 years at Tottenham and have made some life long friends that now feel like family!", Alli wrote on Instagram once his move had been confirmed.

His statement continued, with the midfielder mentioning former boss Mauricio Pochettino and singling him out for special praise after providing Alli with the platform to showcase his talent.

The post prompted a huge amount of well-wishes from fellow former Spurs player and international teammates including Grealish.

The Manchester City star wrote: "Unbelievable! What a player" followed by a heart emoji.

His sentiments were echoed by former Spurs star Jan Vertonghen who added: "All the best", while Joe Hart wrote "Show time Del Boy".

Alli is likely to make his Premier League debut for the Toffees when they make the trip to Newcastle United next Tuesday.

After his switch to Goodison Park had been agreed, Alli expressed his delight at being able to work under new Everton boss Frank Lampard.

“I’m delighted to have signed for Everton, a huge club with a great fanbase and history," the 25-year-old to the official club website. “I'm eager to get started and can't wait for my first game in an Everton shirt.

“I’m looking forward to helping the team and the opportunity to work with the new manager Frank Lampard."

Jack Grealish wished Dele Alli well following his Spurs departure ((Photo by Paul Childs - Pool/Getty Images))

Alli went on to shed light on how he grew up a fan of Lampard the player and is ready to now work with the manager.

"I've had a few good conversations with him [Lampard] already, he's a player I admired through his whole career watching him," Alli added.

"I'm pleased to work with him, it's very exciting, I'm sure we can do great things together.

"I just want to be happy playing football. Working with Lampard, and the great players Everton have got, is a great opportunity for me to do that.

"I'm excited to go there, show the fans what I can do, and help the Club as much as I can."

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