Tottenham’s Luca Williams-Barnett Ready to Start, De Zerbi Says

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi said Friday that 18-year-old midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett is prepared to start Premier League matches.

Williams-Barnett entered as a substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace — his first appearance in the Premier League and second of the season. His first senior outing came in a Carabao Cup fixture against Charlton Athletic.

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De Zerbi confirmed he weighed starting Williams-Barnett in last month’s match against Chelsea. He described the teenager as a "special talent" whose technical ability, composure, conduct on the field and character make him ready for top-level minutes regardless of age.

"During pre-season, it was clear he is a special talent. You see it right away — no extra demonstration is needed. Everything he does shows it," De Zerbi said.

He emphasized that Williams-Barnett must continue developing alongside experienced teammates including Andy Robertson, James Maddison and Ben Davies. De Zerbi acknowledged the heightened duty involved in guiding elite young players but affirmed Williams-Barnett is ready to begin matches when the timing aligns.

Tottenham Hotspur’s next Premier League match is Saturday at Leeds United.

More: Premier League · Soccer · Tottenham Hotspur