Will Andiyapan is a Wales youth international at Under 19 level, and the now first year professional with Spurs is a very versatile defender, who is very capable of playing anywhere in defence. The Watford born player who was previously with the Arsenal Academy set-up prior to joining Spurs, is a player who I personally think will have a good season in 2023/24, a season in which he will step-up to the Spurs Under 21 side in. I first saw Will play for Spurs at Academy level on his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 18 side, in a heavy defeat to Chelsea right at the start of the 2021/22 season. He was Spurs’ best player in that game, a game which he started on the left side of central defence in. I was impressed with his reading of the game, decisiveness and pace in that match, against a very good Chelsea side. Will would make a good number of appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2021/22 season, in a number of positions in defence for Spurs (he provided two assists during that season). Then in the following 2022/23 season, Will Andiyapan made further good progress for Spurs.

In the 2022/23 season Will would feature for Stuart Lewis’ Spurs Under 18 side in the vast majority of their matches. He would also make his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side, as well as featuring in four of the six UEFA Youth League group-stage fixtures that Spurs played last season. As I have written about before, I’ve always thought that Will is a very good reader of the game who is good at making defensive interventions in games, whether he be starting matches at full-back or in central defence. He is always alert and is a good tackler, but Will is also calm and composed in his defending, as well as being good on the ball. An important player for Wales at youth level, the 18 year old who only recently signed his first professional contract with Spurs had a number of very good games for Spurs at Academy level over the last couple of seasons. Regardless of whether he is playing at left-back or in central defence, Will likes to get forward on occasions to support the midfield. Impressing last season in games against the likes of Marseille (at Under 19 level, in the UEFA Youth League), Peterborough United (in the EFL Trophy) and against Crystal Palace, I personally think that Will has definitely made some really good strides during his two seasons as a scholar with Spurs.

This season at left-back, Will Andiyapan will be competing with Jahziah Linton and Tyrell Ashcroft for a starting place at left-back in the Spurs Under 21 side. However, his ability to play anywhere in defence should mean that he hopefully gets a good amount of game time this season. The player who featured for Spurs’ Under 18 side in their successful Under 18 Premier League Cup final win against Aston Villa last season, is a player who I look forward to seeing this season for the Spurs Development side, and I wish him all the very best for this season.