Signed £15M, now worth £52M: Spurs hit the jackpot on 6ft1 gem wizard

Tottenham Hotspur fans suffered a difficult 2022/23 season, seeing their team finish ninth as Mauricio Pochettino’s era came to an end.

Those halcyon days did not end an interminable trophy drought, but they did restore the feel-good factor at N17, with years of excitement in the Champions League and several thrilling Premier League campaigns, with Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, and Harry Kane leading some delightful attacking football.

The previous several years have been difficult, with Antonio Conte’s departure in March being the fourth that Chairman Daniel Levy has imposed in as many years.

The poor finish that sealed Kane’s exit meant that the next appointment was critical, the difference between additional misery and a magnificent return.

Despite some challenges, Ange Postecoglou seems to be the appropriate man for the job, having left Celtic in the summer to lead the club’s recovery at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He has built a squad fit for purpose, reviving struggling members and bringing in impactful additions, but he has been blessed with one new arrival, Destiny Udogie, who clinched a year before his introduction and has established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout stars this season despite his youth.

Tottenham paid a price for Destiny Udogie

It was August 2022. Tottenham were settling into the 2022/23 season after beating Arsenal to Champions League qualifying the previous May, with Conte at the helm.

It was at this time that reports came that teenage left-back Udogie had been bought from Udinese for £15 million, albeit the Italy U21 international would stay at the Stadio Friuli for the season.

He flourished, scoring three goals and providing four assists in 34 Serie A appearances and was dubbed a “incredible talent” by writer Josh Bunting.

Spurs obviously wanted Udogie to acquire some vital experience in his own country before moving to the Premier League, studying English to help with the transition, and although he would have made an impact last year, it has paid off now and then.

Destiny Udogie’s market worth now

Udogie is only a year into his career in England, but he is already regarded as one of the best full-backs in the division; subjectively, he is a strong contender for the Premier League’s team of the year if he maintains his recent form.

And, while he is expected to stay in north London for many years, Tottenham have already made a huge profit on their investment, with CIES Football Observatory’s player valuation model valuing the 21-year-old at €60 million (£52 million), representing a 247% increase in less than two years since the £15 million fee was agreed.

It’s fair to presume that value hasn’t yet hit its peak. The £70,000-a-week ace is powerful and relentless, with searing speed and excellent physique; he is well on his way to establishing the gold standard.

Udogie’s Season in Numbers

While Postecoglou and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy have gotten praise for their transfer activity after the end of the 2022/23 season, the biggest transaction may have been completed a year earlier.

Indeed, Udogie has been exceptional for Spurs in a position that has not always been favorable, and footballJOE’s Hunter Godson has praised him for his “sickeningly good” performances this season, adding that the Italian “gets into nearly every team in the world already.”

While that is a bold claim, there is certainly substance to it. Udogie has excelled during his time in England’s top flight thus far, posting two goals and three assists in 21 appearances this season, completing 86% of his passes and averaging one key pass, 2.9 tackles, 2.6 clearances, 5.8 successful duel wins, and 6.1 ball recoveries per game, according to Sofascore.

It’s impressive for a full-back to be showcasing such a diverse set of skills in their Premier League first season.

Udogie may catch the eye for his surges into the danger zone, penetrating backlines and dragging defenders to the wings to provide space for players like James Maddison to pull the strings in the midfield, but it is his multi-functional approach that really distinguishes him.

According to FBref, Udogie is among the top 20% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored over the last year, the top 15% for pass completion, the top 10% for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons, and the top 12% for touches in the attacking penalty area, tackles, and interceptions per 90.

What this essentially demonstrates is a dynamism and tenacity that the majority of wide defenders can only dream of, with a superb combination of attacking force and defensive stability combined with outstanding athletic ability.

Given his age, Udogie definitely has a lot of room for improvement, and he is in the ideal setting to hone his skills, flourishing in Postecoglou’s fluid, high-octane style.

One might be excused for thinking Udogie had been at the top of his game for many years, with plaudits both to the team and to himself, but this is a Premier League newborn who has yet to reach his peak.

Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic described Udogie as one of Tottenham’s “standout performers” this season, and he really has the makings of a world-class talent who will draw the most lucrative attention.

Perhaps a double-edged sword for Postecoglou and his team, or just a reminder of the club’s seat-raising talent, hopefully for the foreseeable future.

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