Blackburn sign Dilan Markanday from Tottenham as attacker explains reasons for move

Blackburn have completed the signing of Dilan Markanday from Tottenham – with the highly-rated young winger admitting he cannot wait to get started.

The 20-year-old has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Ewood Park with the option of an additional 12 months. That keeps him at Tony Mowbray’s side – currently well placed for promotion – until at least summer 2025.

Markanday joined Spurs at the age of 11 and rose through the academy to become a regular in their under-23s side. This season, Markanday has scored 12 goals in 14 Premier League 2 fixtures, including a hat-trick against Leeds and a brace against Manchester City.

He made his first-team debut in Spurs’ Europa Conference League match away to Vitesse in October.

Markanday becomes Blackburn’s third signing of the January transfer window. Indeed, he follows the arrivals of right-backs James Brown and Deyovaisio Zeefuik.

Rovers are currently third in the Championship, two points adrift of leaders Fulham who have a game in hand.

“I’m so excited to be able to join such a big club with a great history,” he told RoversTV.

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“Hearing of the interest, it was hard to turn down the opportunity. It really was an easy decision to make and a journey that I can’t wait to start.

“Every kid wants to play first-team football and this is a real opportunity for me to get my career started.

“I had a taste of first-team football with Tottenham this season and I just wanted more of it.”

Markanday sad to leave Tottenham

The 20-year-old admits that leaving Spurs was something of a wrench, given his long association with the club.

However, the prospect of playing more regularly clearly appeals to him.

“It was a difficult decision to leave Spurs,” he added. “I’d been there for nine years but the opportunity to come here and help the team was just too big.

“I met some great people during my time with Spurs but I felt it was the right time to get out of my comfort zone, seek first-team football and to take that next step in my career.”

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