Spurs sign Nigeria-eligible central defender Maxwell Adedeji from Leicester City academy

ENGLISH Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspurs have signed Nigeria-eligible teenage defender Maxwell Adedeji from Leicester City as part of the London side's reorganisation to avoid being in its perennial relegation dogfight next season.

Over the last two seasons, Spurs have been one place away from being relegated and during the last campaign, they only avoided the drop on the last day. To avoid having to go through that trauma again next season, the club has been very aggressive in the transfer market, ensuring it has enough cover in all positions.

Adedeji, 18, is a left-footed centreback who came through the Leicester City academy programme and according to Spurs youth team insider Lilywhite Rose, he has now left the club. Leicester got relegated to the third tier of English football at the end of last season, so are having to sell a lot of their players to reduce the wage bill and many of the junior ones are leaving too in search of top flight football.

Yesterday, Adedeji made his unofficial debut for Spurs, playing the second half of the U21s' pre-season opener against National League South side Ebbsfleet United. He was among a quartet of Nigeria-eligible youngsters on Tottenham books who featured at Morrow Stadium in Ebbsfleet, alongside Miracle Adewole, Elisha Sowunmi and Damola Ajayi.

During his time at Leicester City, Adedeji represented the Foxes in the U18 Premier League, FA Youth Cup and Premier League Cup, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 42 appearances. A product of McAuley Catholic High School, Adedeji spent time in the academy systems of Southampton, Chelsea and Arsenal before joining Leicester City.

In addition to Nigeria, he is also eligible to represent England and Finland internationally but has been capped three times for Finland at U17 level. He is yet to decide who he will represent at senior international level yet.