‘The Dele Wave’ in all it’s glory. (Picture: Getty)

Dele Alli is taking the Premier League by storm one wave, one tweet and one dodgy interview at a time.

The 19-year-old Spurs midfielder might well be leading the charge for a title bid in the midfield alongside mate Eric Dier, but it’s away from the field that the youngster is truly excelling.

If he’s not setting up fights between his team-mate and heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, you’ll probably find him down Powerleague or Nandos.

Here are 7 reasons why Dele Alli is about to become your favourite player:


1. The Dele wave

Where else could we start, really?

Ever since Alli caught the eye of Sky Sports cameras during MK Dons training and produced his polite greeting, the ‘Dele wave’ has become an internet sensation:

Since Jack Wilshere's last game, Dele Alli has: Made Spurs debut

Made England debut

Beaten Wilshere's PL goal tallyhttps://t.co/3UWBffc1Eo — BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) February 2, 2016

And the fact he loved it that time the internet made him wave to Kyle Walker:

It is pretty spectacular to be fair…

The internet is brilliant: https://t.co/nRkjszUvhF — Football Tipster (@Footy_Tipster) November 23, 2015

2. Powerleague



All football supporters want to see from their star players is a bit of personality, just a sign that not every mega-money earning superstar is completely out of touch with reality.

The thought of Dele Alli playing Powerleague just two and half years ago should just about take care of that…

Power league everyone! — Dele Alli (@Dele_Alli) June 10, 2013

Power league — Dele Alli (@Dele_Alli) June 16, 2013

Powerleague — Dele Alli (@Dele_Alli) June 20, 2013

Oh, and Nando’s… obviously.

Got to be a nandos tonight, been too long! — Dele Alli (@Dele_Alli) June 11, 2013

3. He has a second job…

As an interviewer for Spurs TV, even if Eric Dier isn’t the biggest fan:

4. Bromance with Eric Dier

While we’re on the subject of Dier, the pair have quite the budding relationship, even if the above video didn’t show it.

Take, for example, the time he tried to rip him for his boxing skills:

Which very nearly backfired:

And made Eric Dier very worried…

@Dele_Alli hope my promoter has sorted out some good medical care if I do wake up afterwards ?? @anthonyfjoshua — Eric Dier (@ericdier) February 10, 2016

Thankfully AJ was only joking around:

@ericdier @Dele_Alli ???? Can't wait for the ring walk either ? — Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) February 11, 2016

Which made an usually quiet Dele Alli pipe up:

Until Dier finally ended the joke with this gem:

@Dele_Alli @anthonyfjoshua your the promoter but I imagined something a bit more like this pic.twitter.com/7G2Q2yn3aR — Eric Dier (@ericdier) February 11, 2016

5. Internet guru

Being just 19 years old, Dele Alli is leading the charge towards the thing that ever PR manager in the Premier League now fears the most… the internet.

The new breed of footballer has grown up spending most of his or her life on the internet, so don’t be surprised when some old pictures and videos surface from years ago. Luckily, Dele Alli takes it all in his stride…

Like his old Myspace picture, for example:

Dele Alli's old Myspace profile picture is sensational. pic.twitter.com/UgtMeHOnB1 — Not Match of the Day (@NOT_MOTD) November 19, 2015

‘The Picture! Yeah, that is me. I thought it was funny and I was gonna put it as my WhatsApp photo – or wear it as fancy dress.’

A lots changed in 5 years ??? pic.twitter.com/JLyUDNbxI4 — Dele Alli (@Dele_Alli) January 12, 2016

Not weird enough for you? How about the truly bizarre 47-minute video of the England midfielder during his first driving lesson?

I know what you’re all thinking after watching 47 minutes of a teenager learning to drive: ‘Did he pass his test?!’

Yes.

@dele_alli36 Congrats on passing today! Good turn around from when i first saw you drive yesterday! @MKDonsFC pic.twitter.com/IgzQDgmOZp — driveJohnsons (@driveJohnsons) November 21, 2013

6. Singing ability

See above point about the internet and multiply by 1,000:

Yes, this is real.

7. This.

To celebrate a winning goal from Son Heung-min: