Who is Luca Williams-Barnett? Tottenham wonderkid signs first professional contract after debut | OneFootball

Creativity, goals and a ‘go-for-it mindset’, why 17-year-old starlet is generating enormous excitement at Spurs

Potential: Luca Williams-Barnett made his senior Tottenham debut in the recent Carabao Cup clash with Doncaster

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Asked what his targets were for the weeks ahead, there was no lack of confidence in Luca Williams-Barnett's answer.

"Win every game and score in every game," he declared.

On current evidence, the latter part of that equation does not feel particularly implausible. The 17-year-old has enjoyed a stunning start to the season for Tottenham's academy in his first campaign with the Under-21 side, and the club already face a decision of how quickly to progress him.

He also scored and assisted in the UEFA Youth League against Villarreal, as he did when Spurs faced Bristol Rovers in the EFL trophy.

Star in the making: Williams-Barnett has made a brilliant start to the season for Spurs’ Under-21s

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There have been international returns, too. Called up for the England U18s side at the start of the month, Williams-Barnett was on the scoresheet against both Canada and Uzbekistan.

He then made his senior Tottenham debut in the Carabao Cup third round against Doncaster, replacing Mathys Tel for the final three minutes of a 3-0 home win over League One opposition.

Williams-Barnett had trained with the first team already this season and has caught the eye of the Spurs boss.

"I'm well aware of Luca's talent and I like what I see," Frank said. "He's young, obviously, but his composure and technique and vision is very good."

The teenager, capable of playing in attacking midfield or up front, has been one of the stars of the club's academy as he has gone through the age ranks. His U18 boss Stuart Lewis made some lofty comparisons last season.

"He loves football. He's such an exciting, creative player," Lewis said.

"I spoke in the week about Tottenham players and having that creativity and that go-for-it mindset. We've loved [David] Ginola over the years, we've loved [Dimitar] Berbatov, those players.

Williams-Barnett was called up to the England Under-18s side last month

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“Luca's still got a lot of work to do. He's an Under-16 player but throughout the season there's been some unbelievable moments."

It is not hard to see why Spurs fans are incredibly excited about Williams-Barnett, who has now signed his first professional contract after turning 17.

Ange Postecoglou named him on the bench for the Europa League trip to Galatasaray last season, just a few weeks after he had turned 16.

That was a last-minute decision, with U21s boss Wayne Burnett putting in calls to get him excused from school and academy goalkeeping coach Dean Brill driving to the family home overnight to pick up his passport.

Williams-Barnett was in the squad for three consecutive European matches and was also on the bench in December last year against Fulham in the Premier League.

Williams-Barnett appears to be on an inevitable march to more first-team minutes in the not-too-distant future. That much is obvious to fans, coaches and, of course, the teenager himself.

"I can't wait until I'm in the Premier League, scoring for Tottenham, making the fans happy," Williams-Barnett said last season. "I just can't wait."