Today it was announced by Spurs that young development side centre-half Jubril Okedina had departed the club to join League One side Cambridge United, a team that he made 14 competitive appearances for last season, while on loan from Spurs. The versatile 20 year old defender signed scholarship forms with Spurs for the start of the 2017/18 season, having made his competitive Under 18’s debut for the club during the previous 2016/17 season. Okedina’s first season at the club full-time was heavily disrupted by injury, and he only made two competitive appearances for the Under 18’s during that season. However, during the following 2018/19 season Jubril established himself as an important player for the Under 18 side (he made his competitive Under 19’s and 23’s debuts during the same season), playing both at right-back and at centre-half. He would also really impress at right-back during the end of season Terborg Tournament, in The Netherlands. During the following 2019/20 season the Londoner made the permanent step up to Wayne Burnett’s Under 23 side, making 15 competitive appearances for them during what was a fine season of development for the ever improving defender. And in the 2020/21 season (he made the bench for the first team on one occasion in pre-season), and after making 11 appearances (scoring three goals) for the Spurs Under 23 side, Jubril went out on loan to then League Two side Cambridge United, who he made 14 competitive appearances for. Whenever I saw Jubril play for Cambridge United last season he performed very well in my opinion at centre-half, as he helped them to achieve promotion to League One.

Always composed on the ball and often looking to make ambitious forward passes from deep, Jubril is a really promising centre-half, who reads the game well and is very clever in how he he defends and approaches situations in games. He has good pace and is also skilful on the ball, and dominant in the air, but he likes to defend on his feet. As a right-back over the last couple of seasons Jubril has shown for Spurs at Under 23 and Under 18 level that he is effective at both ends of the pitch. The player who featured in all four of Spurs Under 23’s friendlies this pre-season, is very good at getting up and down the right flank, but he knows when to stay deep. But he also is good at linking up with the winger when getting forward (he likes to make overlapping runs), and he can deliver a really fine cross with his right foot. I remember very well how important Jubril was for Spurs’ Under 18 side during the 2018/19 season, when they came so close to winning the Premier League South. A consistent defender, I have no doubts that Jubril will do very well at Cambridge United, who he has joined on a two year contract. I look forward to following his progress in the game and I wish Jubril all the very best of luck for the future. I am sure that he has a very good future in the game, and I always enjoyed watching him play for Spurs.