Yago Santiago has started the 2022/23 season well for Spurs’ Under 21 side. The versatile player from Vigo in Spain, who joined Spurs from Celta Vigo during the 2019/20 season, is now in his second season with the Spurs Under 21 side, full-time. Yago has featured in all of the matches that Spurs’ Under 21 side have been involved in so far this season, and he has definitely been one of their best and most influential players. The 19 year old forward, who is capable of playing on either flank, as a CAM, centre-forward and in midfield, is a player who is very technical on the ball. With good link-up play and excellent movement off the ball, Santiago has got better and better at his all-round game over the past couple of seasons, and he is now a very important player for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 21 side. Last season Yago scored two goals and provided two assists, and he was a mainstay of the Spurs Under 23 side.

During the 2022/23 season, Yago Santiago has so far scored two competitive goals, for the Spurs Under 21 side from 12 competitive appearances. Yago impressed with the Spurs Under 21 side during pre-season, and it was in a Premier League 2 fixture against Liverpool during the current season that I really appreciated just how fast the Spurs forward is. In that 3-3 draw, Yago scored two of Spurs’ goals in that game, and his excellent pace and ability to run forward, and go past players with ease was so impressive. Playing the game with so much confidence this season, Santiago is very good at creating space for himself, and his positioning on the pitch means that he gets into some really good goalscoring positions, in and around the penalty area. In the Spurs Under 21’s most recent match, against Stevenage in the Papa Johns Trophy, Yago again impressed so much with his movement off the ball. And his work-rate was as always, excellent.

Versatile and capable of starting matches in all of the forward areas of the pitch, the skilful forward has looked so composed on the ball in every game that he has played in this season. Often making things look effortless with the ball at his feet, Yago is a creative player, and he has shown already this season that he can create chances on his own, out of very little. Santiago is a player who will be very important for the Spurs Under 21 side this season. And I have been particularly impressed when he was started as a centre-forward in matches, when his pace and running in behind the defence has created opportunities for Spurs. I wish him all the very best of luck for the remainder of this season.