A clear update on Tottenham's 18 loaned players, highlighting standout performances like Mikey Moore's equaliser and Luka Vuskovic's progress in the Bundesliga
Tottenham’s loan army: who’s thriving, who’s being tested — and what it means for Spurs
Tottenham currently have 18 players out on loan, a sprawling network that stretches from the English Football League to Europe and beyond. Rather than scatter young pros at random, Spurs appear to be running a deliberate programme: a mix of development, exposure to demanding environments, market-building and, in some cases, the careful staging of future sales.
Head of Loans and Pathways Andy Scoulding is the central figure in this operation, tracking minutes, positions and progress so the club can make data-led decisions about recalls, reintegration or transfers.
The short version: some loans are about sharpening match fitness and tactical seasoning; others are about boosting transfer value.
A few are clearly designed to test players in roles they wouldn’t see at Spurs — and the payoff is already visible in a number of high-leverage moments.
Loan highlights: moments that matter
– Mikey Moore (Rangers): The most eye-catching contribution this week was Moore’s 88th-minute headed equaliser at Livingston.
It was his 36th appearance of the season and takes him to five goals and three assists — real evidence that regular senior minutes in a physical, high-pressure league are doing him good. Rangers have used him as a central No.10 where he’s been instrumental in linking play and creating chances; Scottish media and supporters hailed the late intervention.
– Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg): The young Croatian centre-back has become a near-automatic starter in the Bundesliga: 21 appearances, 1,920 minutes. He’s missed a game through suspension after collecting five bookings, but reports from Croatia now suggest he’s on the radar for senior international duty — a clear sign his profile is rising.
– Alfie Devine (Preston North End): A Championship workhorse this season — 32 league appearances, six goals, two assists and 2,371 minutes. Spurs’ staff point to him as an example of “sustained exposure” to a physically intense competition.
– Dane Scarlett (Hibernian): Short, strategic bursts to rebuild strike rhythm — five appearances, one assist, 236 minutes. The club sees cameo minutes as a way to restore finishing timing.
– Yusuf Akhamrich (Bristol Rovers): Moving from occasional outings to a sustained attacking role and chipping in with goals and assists — a classic lower-league development path paying off.
– Ashley Phillips (Stoke City): Near-constant selection in a Championship defence, used to test readiness for senior English football.
– Aaron Maguire (Hampton & Richmond Borough): An example of Spurs placing young keepers and defenders into non-league football to build match temperament, command of the area and decision-making under pressure.
How Spurs pick destinations
Rather than one-size-fits-all, Spurs tailor loan destinations to the player’s needs:
– Short-term, high-intensity bursts (e.g., Scarlett) to rebuild match sharpness.
– Long-term, heavy-minute assignments (e.g., Devine) to test stamina and consistency.
– Tactical variety: players are sometimes sent to systems that contrast with Spurs’ style to broaden their adaptability.
– Position-specific targets: goalkeepers to non-league clubs for aerial battles and decision-making; centre-backs to leagues where they’ll face varied attackers.
Each placement comes with explicit objectives: minimum minutes, milestone appearance counts, statistical targets and regular review points. Club scouts, loan managers and receiving coaches feed weekly reports back to Spurs so the parent club can adjust workloads, manage injury risk and decide whether to recall, extend or prepare a permanent transfer.
Loans as market strategy, not just development
Some deals are clearly developmental; others are structured with a commercial finish line. Alejo Veliz, for example, is on loan at Rosario Central with reports suggesting a pre-arranged move to Bahia could be activated after his spell. Spurs’ approach here is pragmatic: convert academy output into financial assets while keeping upside via sell-on clauses in some cases. That balancing act — sporting aims versus early monetisation — creates winners and risks. Players get senior minutes, but their long-term futures can hinge on contractual triggers and negotiations between clubs and agents.
Player welfare and rehabilitation on loan
Loans also serve medical and mental-health objectives. Jamie Donley’s comeback at Oxford United followed a staged recovery plan after a heavy debut collision; Mansfield have managed Oliver Irow and George Abbott with tailored returns to limit re-injury risk. These are examples of loans used as rehab and confidence-building tools as much as talent development.
Non-league: a deliberate test of temperament
Spurs’ loan strategy reaches well into non-league setups to build psychological and physical resilience. For goalkeepers and young defenders, the fewer substitutions and “play-to-win” environment of semi-professional football can speed up learning curves in ways under-23 fixtures cannot. The club monitors clean sheets, error rates and “high-pressure actions” to judge progression.
What the club does with the data
Mid-season reviews and end-of-season appraisals are the decision moments. Spurs won’t just look at goals and minutes; they’ll combine quantitative metrics with qualitative reports from host-club coaches. Those assessments feed into:
– recalls and pre-season reintegration plans,
– extended loans,
– negotiated permanent transfers,
– and summer transfer-market strategy (who to keep, who to sell, who’s ready to step up).
Tottenham currently have 18 players out on loan, a sprawling network that stretches from the English Football League to Europe and beyond. Rather than scatter young pros at random, Spurs appear to be running a deliberate programme: a mix of development, exposure to demanding environments, market-building and, in some cases, the careful staging of future sales. Head of Loans and Pathways Andy Scoulding is the central figure in this operation, tracking minutes, positions and progress so the club can make data-led decisions about recalls, reintegration or transfers.0
