Tottenham's Ryan Sessegnon decision and what comes next as Ange Postecoglou plots future plans

The summer of 2024 is going to be a key period in Ryan Sessegnon's football career. Signed by Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 after excelling across the capital with Fulham, the left-sided player is now on the lookout for a new club as he attempts to get his career back on track.

As reported by football.london on Monday, Spurs have informed the 24-year-old that his contract will not be extended this summer. The Lilywhites had an option to increase Sessegnon's deal by a further year but have opted against it, thus meaning his Tottenham career will officially come to a close at the end of June.

Tipped for big things in north London after coming to the attention of a number of clubs after bursting onto the scene at Craven Cottage, multiple injury issues have proved costly and ultimately ravaged his Tottenham career. Across his five seasons at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sessegnon was restricted to 57 games in all competitions for Spurs.

One of his five seasons did see him head for Germany as he linked up with Hoffenheim on loan. The Roehampton-born player made 29 appearances in total for the Bundesliga club before returning to Spurs where Nuno Espirito Santo was now in the hotseat following Jose Mourinho's dismissal.

Sessegnon did get to feature more following Antonio Conte's appointment as manager, with his system that included the use of wing-backs tailormade for the former England Under-21 international. Facing a couple of spells on the sidelines through injury, Sessegnon sustained another troublesome hamstring injury in February 2023 that would keep him out of action for almost a year after undergoing surgery last summer.

Finally returning to the pitch at the beginning of January with a seven-minute cameo off the bench against Burnley, the player was once again dealt a hammer blow a month later after sustaining yet another hamstring injury in the first half of an appearance for the club's Under-21s.

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Having undergone surgery on his left hamstring back in July, this time it was his right hamstring that was the issue and it would result in him going under the knife yet again. It led to the player positing an emotional update on his Instagram account where he called for people "to be careful what you say online".

"Gutted beyond belief. Just when I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and thought I was back doing what I love, I’ve had another setback," he penned. "I’ve been down this road before. I’ll pick myself up, stay head strong and begin my recovery in the best way possible.

"Having been through an operation and the recovery on my other hamstring last year, and knowing how strong that hamstring is now, I know this is the best solution to put an end to the reoccurring issues.

“Thank you to those who have sent messages of support — I can’t express how it feels. We’re all human at the end of the day, and I’m devastated more than anyone to have a setback. I’ll do everything I can to be back out on that pitch.

"Speaking on behalf of anyone who’s been in this situation, please be careful what you say online. Words hurt and no-one chooses to be in this position."

Sessegnon's outing for the club's Under-21s proved to be his last appearance in a Tottenham shirt. Always going to be facing a decision over the player's future one way or another this summer due to his contract status and the option at their disposal, Spurs have decided that his deal will not be extended and he will now bid farewell to the Lilywhites at the end of June.

A real shame for the player after such a frustrating spell at Tottenham with injuries severely limiting his playing time, the time is probably right for both parties to go their separate ways.

After all, Postecoglou recently spoke about making "tough decisions" in order for him to build a Tottenham squad that can play his brand of football and hopefully help him reach his lofty ambitions in the capital. Japhet Tanganga, just like Sessegnon, is another who endured some terrible luck with injuries at the club and will more than likely also depart this summer.

Heading to Millwall on loan at the turn of the year and starting 17 of his 19 appearances for Neil Harris' side to prove that he can handle the demands of first-team football week in, week out, Sessegnon, once fully fit after his latest hamstring setback, needs to do likewise in the 2024/25 campaign. The player's Tottenham career may not have panned out how he would have liked but he only turned 24 last Saturday and he still has so much football left ahead of him.

The 2023/24 season was one to forget for Sessegnon after making a solitary first-team appearance but the subsequent surgery he has had on both hamstrings may well prolong his career going forward. A very good player on his day, Sessegnon should not be short on offers in the weeks and months ahead and all connected with Tottenham will be hoping that his next move proves to be a big success as he bids to get his career firmly back on track.

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