Defender Charlie Sayers (17) recently joined Spurs on a permanent transfer from National League side Southend United. The player who is capable of playing as a left-back or centre-half, has so far made six competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side, and made the bench for the Under 23’s on one occasion. Sayers is a tall defender, but one who has good ability on the ball. The Southend born footballer who attended Beauchamps High School, was previously with Billericay Town and Bowers & Pitsea at youth level, prior to joining Southend United. Sayers made his competitive first team debut for Southend back in October of 2021, when he started at left-back in a National League game against Solihull Moors. He made an additional five appearances for the Southend United first team, before playing his first game for the Spurs Under 18 side (it was announced soon afterwards that he had joined the club) in an Under 18 Premier League Cup game with Fulham, at their Motspur Park training ground. Fulham won that game comfortably, and it was a difficult first game for Charlie Sayers to make his debut in (he was playing on the left side of central defence).

Sayers captained the Spurs Under 18 side on his next appearance for them, in a 3-0 Premier League South defeat away to Crystal Palace. Then he started again (starting at centre-half once again) for the Under 18 side against Leicester City, in a league game. And while in my opinion he did well in that game against Leicester City, I though that his best performance to date for Spurs at Academy level, came in  an FA Youth Cup third round tie with Ipswich Town, in December of 2021. In that 5-1 win for Spurs, I thought that Charlie had a really strong game game in central defence. He made two really important defensive interventions during the first half, kept really good positioning throughout the game and was really assured in defence, working well with right sided centre-half and first year scholar Alfie Dorrington. Sayers continued his good start to life at Spurs by helping their Under 18 side to a 2-1 league away win over Southampton, earlier this month. With the second year scholar scoring an 88th minute winner for Spurs, in that game. He then scored another goal in his most recent appearance for the Under 18 side in their 6-1 FA Youth Cup fourth round tie win over West Brom, last week.

The versatile defender has so far played all of his games for Spurs at Academy level at centre-half, and in that West Brom game Charlie Sayers and Alfie Dorrington worked really well together again, in central defence. Both players helped to keep talented West Brom forward Reyes Cleary fairly quite throughout the game. Although it’s still early days, I have been impressed with the former Southend United player in regards to his positioning, overall defending and also his ability on the ball, and his willingness to get on the ball and bring it out of defence, and make some good forward passes. Sayers seems to be strong in the air, and he also reads the game in an impressive way. He recently made the squad for the Spurs Under 23 side, for the first time, which I think was really well deserved. While I hope that he does to get to make his competitive Under 23’s debut during the remainder of the season, Sayers will be very important for the Under 18 side as they look to continue their FA Youth Cup run. I wish Charlie all the very best of luck for the rest of the 2021/22 season, and congratulate him on having joined Spurs during late 2021.