Harry Kane has paid a warm tribute to former team-mate Dele Alli after the midfielder left Tottenham to join Everton on transfer deadline day.
The 25-year-old has brought an end to his seven-year association with the north London club, having joined as a teenager from MK Dons for £5million in 2015.
Alli has penned a two-and-a-half-year contract at Goodison Park to link up with new Everton boss Frank Lampard, who was announced hours earlier Rafa Benitez’s successor.
The deal has been structured to allow Alli to leave on a free transfer, with significant bonus payments included that could reportedly net Spurs up to £40m.
Kane and Alli shared a fruitful attacking partnership in the early years of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign, with the pair bagging 57 goals between them in the 2016-17 campaign in all competitions.
And the England international sent a farewell message to his compatriot after his departure was made official just minutes before the transfer deadline on January 31.
“Good luck on your next chapter @dele_official,” Kane wrote on his official Twitter account.
“We’ve had some great memories together over the past 7 years.
“Thank you for everything you have given me and the club! See you soon.”
While Alli was still adored by the club’s supporters, he had been frozen out under managers Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.
Injuries and a general lack of confidence had hindered Alli as he struggled to win back his place, making just 25 Premier League appearances across the last two seasons.
And the player admitted he is excited to have a fresh start on Merseyside, as well as revealing the role Lampard played in convincing to move to the club.
“I’m delighted to have signed for Everton, a huge club with a great fanbase and history,” he told the club’s official website.
“I'm eager to get started and can't wait for my first game in an Everton shirt. I’m looking forward to helping the team and the opportunity to work with the new manager Frank Lampard.
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"I've had a few good conversations with him [Lampard] already, he's a player I admired through his whole career watching him.
"I'm pleased to work with him, it's very exciting, I'm sure we can do great things together.
"I just want to be happy playing football. Working with Lampard, and the great players Everton have got, is a great opportunity for me to do that.
“I’m excited to go there, show the fans what I can do, and help the club as much as I can."
Alli ends his Spurs career without a trophy, but the attacking midfielder was instrumental in helping Spurs reach the Champions League final 2019.
He also made 269 appearances for the club, scoring 67 goals in his seven-year stint in north London.
Alli is cup-tied for the FA Cup fourth round fixture against Brentford on February 5, so he may have to wait until their trip to Newcastle to make his debut for Everton.
