Dele Alli imitates Mikel, changes name for “personal reasons”

– Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli will not wear his surname on the back of his Spurs shirt this season

– The England playmaker says he feels ‘no connection’ to the Alli name having been given away by his mother as a 13-year-old

– He invites fans who have purchased 2016/17 shirts with ‘Alli 20′ on the back to send them in for him to sign

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli will no longer have his surname displayed on his shirt when the 2016/2017 English Premier League season kicks off.

According to Alli, his decision to change his name on his shirt is due to no feeling of connection to the Alli surname.

Tottenham explained on their website that, Alli will retain the number 20 shirt, but with the name ‘Dele’ displayed on his match shirts.

The 20-year-old revealed the reason for the change was a personal one.

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli will no longer have his surname displayed on his shirt when the 2016/2017 EPL season kicks off

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He said: “I wanted a name on my shirt that represented who I am and I feel I have no connection with the Alli surname.

“This is not a decision I have taken without a lot of thought and discussion with family close to me.”

The 20-year-old also invited fans who have purchased 2016/17 shirts with ‘Alli 20′ on the back to send them in for him to sign.

Following @Dele_Alli‘s decision to change the name on the back of his shirt ahead of the new season… 1/2 http://pic.twitter.com/F6nkAGWLKi

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 12, 2016

…he has invited fans who have purchased 2016/17 shirts with ‘Alli 20′ on the back to send them in for him to sign. 2/2

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 12, 2016

In January, Alli’s mother Denise had disclosed that she gave her son away when he was aged 13 while she battled alcoholism.

The England international was handed over to a couple, Alan and Sally Hickford, who he is said to call his adoptive parents.

However, Dele’s father, Kenny disclosed that the youngster is a member of Nigerian royalty.

He said: “If Dele went back to Nigeria now it would be crazy.

“He would have a presidential welcome wherever he goes.

“Everybody watches him play and is proud of him. It opens every door for him being a prince. He can talk to our prime minister and the president if he wants to.

 “I knew the best place for him was here in the UK.

“I have always been in his life. There has never been a time when I have not been in his life.

“He calls me all the time. Sometimes he will call and say ‘did you watch that match?’. He is a family man.”

Alli enjoyed a great season at Spurs, ending the term with 10 league goals and nine assists, having joined the club in February 2015.

His impressive performance at White Hart Lane handed him a place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the Euro 2016 championship.

Dele Alli’s change of name comes just a week after Super Eagles captain and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel officially changed him name because “he has finally had enough of people getting his ACTUAL NAME wrong”.

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