Tottenham drop exciting team news hint after Roberto De Zerbi pressure grows

Luca Williams-Barnett looks potentially set for expanded first-team involvement at Tottenham this season after being included in the club’s official squad photo.

The 18-year-old was notable as being the only academy talent featured in Spurs’ squad picture for the 2026/27 campaign, which was released on Thursday (October 1).

Williams-Barnett is widely considered as one of the most promising young talents in English football and has shone for Tottenham at Under-18 and U21 level, making his senior debut under former boss Thomas Frank aged 16 with a late cameo off the bench during last season’s 3-0 win over Doncaster in the Carabao Cup.

Williams-Barnett also made the Spurs bench for the first game of the new Premier League season away at Brentford, while he was named as a substitute on a further 11 occasions across all competitions last term.

He was a surprise absentee from the matchday squad for the 3-1 defeat at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, playing for the U21s instead as he scored off the bench against Dinamo Zagreb in the Premier League International Cup.

Fans have called for Williams-Barnett to be given more first-team minutes under De Zerbi amid Tottenham’s attacking struggles this season, with their barren streak in the league only ended against Aston Villa last time out in a game they lost 3-2 to sink to the foot of the table with no wins so far.

Top talent: Luca Williams-Barnett is Tottenham’s most highly-rated youngster

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That pressure only increased further after the player scored a fantastic individual goal for England’s U19s in a friendly against Norway on Tuesday.

De Zerbi admitted earlier this month that he did have to consider increased senior involvement for Williams-Barnett, though stressed that he did not want to compromise his development by throwing him into a difficult situation.

“Yes, I have a big consideration because he is a good player and he is a potential top player. We have to understand when is the best situation for him and for the team also,” the Italian said before the defeat by Villa.

“It is a different job to manage the young, young player, especially when this young player is a potential top player, because you can’t put them in the bad condition or bad situation, but also you can’t forget of them.

“I didn’t forget about Luca, like Malachi [Hardy, young defender], but we have to find the right moment.”

Another notable headline from Tottenham’s official squad photo was the inclusion of Richarlison, who remains at the club after being unable to agree an exit during the summer transfer window.