Harry Winks – From Spurs To Seagrave

Signing for the Foxes from Tottenham Hotspur this week, the cultured central midfielder also spent time in Italy last term, furthering his experience with a season-long loan spell at Serie A side Sampdoria. 

Growing up a Tottenham fan, having been born and raised in Hemel Hempstead on the outskirts of north London, Winks joined his boyhood club at the age of five, in 2002. A 20-year long association with Spurs had begun.

Moving through the ranks within the Lilywhites’ youth system, Winks was named in Premier League matchday squads as early as March 2014, but it took until November that year to make his senior debut, under the management of Mauricio Pochettino, in a UEFA Europa League game at White Hart Lane. 

The following season also contained European involvement, before breaking through into Pochettino’s Premier League plans across the 2016/17 campaign. Debuting in the top-flight in August 2016, his first start and goal arrived in the same game three months later.

Soon after making his Champions League bow, in 2017, England came calling, though Winks was also eligible to represent Spain. Debuting in the Three Lions’ final 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, starting the 1-0 away win, Winks would miss the tournament due to injury. 

In fact, several injuries threatened to derail his upward trajectory, but Winks’ individual progress continued with several impressive performances, including against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu.

Returning to the international fold for the UEFA Nations League victory over Spain, his maiden senior England goal followed during EURO 2020 qualifying. 

Back at Spurs, the midfielder started the club’s first-ever Champions League Final in June 2019, though it would end in defeat.

With more than a century of Premier League appearances under his belt, Leicester have acquired an accomplished English midfielder. A talented passer, possessing an ability to play as a deep-lying playmaker, the 27-year-old’s qualities are sure to come to fore again this season.