FORMER Tottenham and Everton forward Dele Alli hopes the new year will present “some exciting opportunities” after finally cutting ties with Everton.

The 28-year-old, whose contract expired in the summer, has not played a competitive match since a loan spell at Besiktas in March 2023 having been beset by injury problems.

He remained with the Toffees beyond the expiry of his contract in an attempt to improve his fitness but has decided to move on.

“As widely published this week, 2025 may set me on a new path with some exciting opportunities,” Alli, who at the weekend was pictured watching Italian side Como where manager Cesc Fabregas has reportedly offered him the chance to train, wrote on Instagram.

“Before any of that happens it’s very important for me to make clear how grateful I am to all the fans, staff and players at Everton FC for the support they have given me.

“It’s been an incredibly tough journey trying to put the final pieces together to regain match fitness and I cannot thank the Everton staff enough for the hard work they have put into this process.

“Unfortunately things haven’t worked out as we all would have hoped and I think it’s the right time for me to turn a new page.

“I want to wish everyone at this amazing club the very best of luck and hopefully we will see each other again soon.”

Everton boss Sean Dyche said Alli moved on with the club’s best wishes.

“The major point we agreed as a collective was to get him back to a good place and I think he is there, he’s just had so much misfortune with niggling injuries which have carried on,” he said.

“You couldn’t imagine it, the challenges he’s had. We wish him well and I think that’s the best we can do.

“He has been nothing but an ease for me to work with, the medical team worked tirelessly with him and we wish him well.”