FA block Tottenham loan deal: “It’s a repeat of what happened with Mikey Moore.”

Luca Williams-Barnett is regarded as one of Tottenham’s brightest young talents and a firm fan favourite. He made his senior debut earlier this season in Spurs’ 3–0 Carabao Cup win over Doncaster Rovers.

Fresh from England’s Under-17 World Cup campaign, the spotlight has returned to the teenager, who was recently nominated for Premier League 2 Player of the Month for the second time this season. So far, he has made 12 appearances in England, playing 894 minutes, scoring eight goals and supplying seven assists.

His impressive form has led many supporters to claim that domestic youth football is no longer challenging enough, with calls for him to be sent out on loan in January. But Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham told Tottenham News that FA regulations make a winter move highly unlikely.

He explained that rules around age and development mean he cannot yet take a temporary move — a situation similar to what previously happened with Mikey Moore. Although Williams-Barnett meets the FA requirement of being at least 17 and on a professional contract, loan deals for players his age also require a parent or guardian’s approval, and the player must not be in full-time education.

Because he is still completing education within the academy setup, this creates an obstacle for any loan arrangement.

Consequently, Tottenham may have to wait until the summer before arranging his first loan spell.