It was announced today by Spurs that young defender Dennis Cirkin (19) has left the club to join League One side Sunderland on a permanent deal. Cirkin has signed a three year deal with Sunderland. A player who signed scholarship forms with Spurs for the start of the 2018/19 season, Dennis Cirkin had already been in Spurs’ Academy for many years before that. A left-back (he used to play as a left-winger) who has also played at centre-half at Academy level. In his first season at Spurs full-time Dennis was outstanding. Showing his ability to beat players with skill and at ease when going forward with the ball as if they weren’t even there, the then first year scholar made 19 competitive appearances for Spurs’ Under 18 side that season. He also featured in the UEFA Youth League and made six appearances for the Under 23 side. Cirkin scored two goals from left-back for the Spurs Under 18 side in 2018/19, and he also registered two assists. Born in Dublin but brought up in England, the left-back who loves to get forward and try and create, did actually have some injury troubles during the following 2019/20 season. It was a season which he would spend mainly with the Spurs Under 18 side, although he did occasionally feature for the Spurs Under 23’s. However, then Spurs boss José Mourinho, a manager who clearly rated Dennis highly, would select the England youth international on three occasions for three first team match-day squads that season (he featured on the bench in all three games).

Dennis featured for Spurs’ first team during the 2020/21 pre-season and I thought that he did well in the games that he was involved in. And although he would make 14 competitive appearances for Spurs’ Under 23 side during the season, Dennis did make the bench for the Spurs first team on two occasions that season. During this pre-season and prior to his move to Sunderland, Cirkin made two appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side during pre-season, with the most recent one coming in a friendly against Barnet last Saturday. In my opinion a very talented left-back and somebody who I really enjoyed watching play for Spurs at Academy level, Cirkin is a player who I feel will have a really good career in the game. His skilful surging runs from deep makes him difficult to defend against, but it’s his excellent stamina and desire to get up and down the left flank so well and effectively which makes him a really good player. He also likes to make strong challenges and he is an intelligent defender who reads the game well, and who likes the physical side of the game. Dennis was a key player in the Spurs Under 18 side which came so close to winning the Premier League South in 2018/19, and he made the step up to the Under 23 side with ease. I have very high hopes for Dennis and I would like to wish him all the very best of luck at Sunderland. Farewell and good luck, Dennis.