Will Lankshear

Will Lankshear
Personal information
Full name William Lankshear[1]
Date of birth (2005-04-20) 20 April 2005 (age 19)[2]
Place of birth Welwyn Garden City, England[2]
Position(s) Forward[2]
Team information
Current team
 Tottenham Hotspur
Number 42
Youth career
0000–2021 Arsenal
2021–2022 Sheffield United
2022– Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Tottenham Hotspur 2 (0)
International career‡
2023– England U19 5 (3)
2024– England U20 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:09, 15 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:35, 12 December 2024 (UTC)

William Lankshear (born 20 April 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur as a forward.

Club career

Early career

Lankshear was at the Arsenal Academy before joining up with Sheffield United. He agreed a scholarship contract with Sheffield United in February 2021.[3] Lankshear was the top scorer in the division as he captained Sheffield United to the under-18 Professional Development League Division 2 title in 2021–22. He scored 38 goals in 48 appearances for the Sheffield United age-group teams in total. Sheffield United first team manager Paul Heckingbottom described him as having “a good gift to score goals”, and Sheffield United were ready to offer him a new contract.[4] However, amid interest from Premier League club Brentford, Tottenham Hotspur agreed to pay £2 million to Sheffield United for him on 31 August 2022,[5] with £1 million of the fee guaranteed and further payments thought to be performance-related bonuses.[5] Some reports suggest the fee could rise to £2.5 million with Heckingbottom admitting it was “a good deal” for the youngster considering they had picked him up for free only a year previously.[6] Lankshear signed a contract with Tottenham running until the summer of 2025.[7]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 8 October 2022, Lankshear made his debut as a substitute for Spurs' under-18s with his team 3–1 down against the Wolverhampton Wanderers youth side, and scored a quick-fire brace to level the match.[8] Lankshear paid tribute to the strength and conditioning work he had undertaken since joining Tottenham Hotspur.[8] Playing in the UEFA Youth League against Sporting Lisbon, Lankshear scored after 46 seconds.[9]

Lankshear scored 23 goals for Tottenham's U21 team in the 2023–24 Premier League 2 season, including a brace in the 3–1 play-off final victory against Sunderland. His performances saw him named as the league's Player of the Season.[10][11]

On 3 October 2024, Lankshear made his senior debut for Tottenham, starting a 2–1 away win over Hungarian champions Ferencvárosi TC in the UEFA Europa League.[12] He scored his first goal for the club on 7 November in a 3–2 away defeat to Galatasaray in the same competition, before being sent off for receiving two yellow cards.[13]

International career

Lankshear scored on his debut for England U19 on 15 November 2023, in a 6–0 win over Romania U19.[14]

On 10 October 2024, Lankshear made his U20 debut during a 2-1 win over Italy in Frosinone.[15]

Style of play

Lankshear has been described as a “poacher” who is “outstanding in front of goal”.[16]

Personal life

Lankshear is reportedly a Tottenham Hotspur supporter.[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tottenham Hotspur U21 2022–23[18] — — — — 1[a] 0 1 0
2023–24[19] — — — — 3[a] 2 3 2
2024–25[20] — — — — 1[a] 1 1 1
Total — — — — 5 3 5 3
Tottenham Hotspur 2024–25[20] Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 2[b] 1 — 4 1
Career total 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 5 3 9 4
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

  1. ^ "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". www.premierleague.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Will Lankshear". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  3. ^ Summerscales, Robert (31 August 2022). "Tottenham Sign Former Arsenal Teenager Will Lankshear From Sheffield United". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  4. ^ Hemmingham, Nathan (31 August 2022). "Inside Tottenham's deal for Sheffield United ace Will Lankshear and his 'gift for scoring goals'". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b Thomas, Lyall (26 August 2022). "Tottenham to sign £2m young striker Will Lankshear from Sheffield United one year after Arsenal release". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  6. ^ Hall, Danny (31 August 2022). "Fee revealed as Sheffield United man nears Premier League transfer - What boss said about "good deal"". The Star. National World. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Lankshear joins from Sheffield United". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  8. ^ a b Hemmingham, Nathan (12 October 2022). "Will Lankshear opens up on 'brilliant' Tottenham Hotspur start following Sheffield United move". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. ^ Guest, Rob (26 October 2022). "Tottenham vs Sporting CP UEFA Youth League highlights as Will Lankshear nets in defeat". Football London. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Lankshear brace fires Under-21s to Premier League 2 play-off final triumph". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  11. ^ Gold, Alasdair (27 May 2024). "Lankshear makes Postecoglou plan and names 'unbelievable' Spurs wonderkid". Football London. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Ferencvaros 1-2 Tottenham: Youthful Spurs side win in Hungary in Europa League". BBC Sport. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Victor Osimhen scores twice in thriller". BBC Sport. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  14. ^ Smith, Frank (15 November 2023). "Report: England MU19s 6-0 Romania U19". England Football. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  15. ^ Vassell, Zac (10 October 2024). "Report: England Men's ELS 2-1 Italy". England Football. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  16. ^ Connor, Lee. "The 5 Sheffield United academy stars Heckingbottom could call upon next season". Sheffield United News. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  17. ^ Hemmingham, Nathan (31 August 2022). "Inside Tottenham's deal for Sheffield United ace Will Lankshear and his 'gift for scoring goals'". MSN. Retrieved 12 June 2023. [dead link‍]
  18. ^ "Games played by Will Lankshear in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Games played by Will Lankshear in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Games played by Will Lankshear in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 November 2024.