Free agent Dele Alli handed lifeline by EFL club - 'The doors are open'

Barnet manager Dean Brennan says that Dele Alli would be welcome to train with his team after the former England star used the League Two club's facilities. Alli, 30, has been a free agent for over a year, having left Italian side Como after just one appearance.

The midfielder recently shared footage of him working individually at Barnet's training ground and stadium, The Hive. On Thursday, Brennan confirmed that Alli had rented out the club's facilities and said that he'd be welcome to join first-team training.

"He's a serious footballer and he's going through a real tough time," Brennan told talkSPORT. "There's obviously some kind of issue why people haven't taken him on.

"If I do a Harry Redknapp and pull him back in, like [Paolo] Di Canio (who signed for West Ham in 1999, having not played since receiving an 11-game ban for pushing a referee), no issue whatsoever. Everyone deserves a second chance in life.

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"At our football club we have lots of lads that train with us that are out of contract and if Dele wants to come train with us the doors are open. He can use us to get fit and train with the group."

The Barnet boss added: "Our facilities are available to rent. We don't live in Disneyland down at our level so our lads have to pay their bills, pay their mortgage and we don't get 10,000, 20,000 (fans) a game.

"There's only a couple of thousand we get. So renting our facilities out was part of the business process at our place and it looks like Dele's done just that."

Alli hasn't featured in a competitive match since March 2025, getting sent off in his sole appearance for Como after coming on as a substitute. The 30-year-old also had spells with Everton and Besiktas after leaving Tottenham in 2022.

Which club should sign Dele Alli? Have your say in the comments section.

The following year, Alli gave an emotional interview to Gary Neville for The Overlap. He opened up on being sexually abused as a child and detailed Everton's support for him during his addiction to sleeping tablets.

Alli would be walking into an upbeat dressing room at Barnet. The Bees are currently top of League Two and remain unbeaten after seven league games.

It's their second season back in the EFL after seven years in the National League. Barnet's next match is away to Crawley on Saturday.