Dele Alli’s girlfriend and Harry Kane show support after star details trauma and addiction

Dele Alli has been supported by his girlfriend as well as his former Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane after opening up about his childhood trauma and an addiction to sleeping pills. The Everton star spoke to Gary Neville on The Overlap to discuss some of the issues that have impacted his form over the last few years.

Alli was once among the shining lights of English football as he played a starring role for Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino. But his form nosedived after Pochettino departed north London and he was sold to Everton last February. The 27-year-old has struggled to make an impression at Goodison Park and spent last season on loan at Besiktas in Turkey.

Following his return to Merseyside, Alli told Neville: “So, at six, I was molested by my mum’s friend, who was at the house a lot. My mum was an alcoholic, and that happened at six. I was sent to Africa to learn discipline, and then I was sent back.

“At seven, I started smoking, eight I started dealing drugs. An older person told me that they wouldn’t stop a kid on a bike, so I rode around with my football, and then underneath I’d have the drugs, that was eight. Eleven, I was hung off a bridge by a guy from the next estate, a man.

And he added: “I got addicted to sleeping tablets, it’s a problem not only I have. It’s going around more than people realise in football. Now is probably the right time to tell people. It’s tough to talk about it as it’s quite recent and something I’ve hid for a long time and I’m scared to talk about.”

After the interview was released, the player’s girlfriend Cindy Kimberly took to Instagram and wrote: “Proud of you.” Meanwhile Kane, who played in the 2019 Champions League final for Spurs alongside Alli, took to Twitter and penned: “Proud of @dele_official for speaking out and sharing his experience to try and help others.”

Tottenham also recognised the courage of their former player as they posted a picture of him on Twitter with a love heart emoji. And Everton released a statement that read: “The club has been supporting Dele in both his return to fitness and overcoming the personal challenges highlighted in his interview with The Overlap. Everyone at Everton respects and applauds Dele’s bravery to speak about the difficulties he has faced, as well as seek the help required.

“The physical and mental welfare of all our players is of paramount importance. The club takes very seriously its responsibility in protecting the confidentiality of players and staff. Dele will not be conducting any further interviews in relation to his rehabilitation, and we ask that his privacy is respected while he continues his recuperation from injury and receives the full care and support needed for his physical and mental wellbeing.”