Report: Reo Griffiths has already left Tottenham Hotspur

Figures. You have a youth player that comes up through the academy and starts making a splash by scoring lots of goals at the U18 level, you get excited enough to create a blog-wide nickname for him, and then he goes and leaves the club to pursue a career in France.

RIP, Reo Speedwagon.

We’ve known it was probably coming for a few days now, but according to Football.London, Spurs U18 sensation Reo Griffiths has already left the club, with reports suggesting that he’s close to a deal with Ligue 1 side Lyon. He’s following a similar path to Keanan Bennetts, another promising youngster who left for Gladbach earlier this summer, and he’s the latest in a string of young English players who are leaving to forge their own path in continental leagues abroad.

In this case it hurts a little more because it sure looks like Reo had the goods. He apparently was able to terminate his third-year scholarship contract (which is NOT a pro contract) and I’m not quite sure how that works, but surely those kinds of youth arrangements are a little more lax than a pro deal.

It’s hard to get too mad at him as there’s currently a giant neon HARRY KANE standing in the way of any future strikers at Spurs, but I do wish that I had more of a chance to see him play and develop over the next couple of years.

I don’t know if we’ll ever get full confirmation of this move from the club. Spurs often stay mum when it comes to players who aren’t in the development squad or higher. We’ll know soon enough, I guess.

The other youth player who also is likely on his way out the door is Marcus “Mini Messi” Edwards, who Spurs are ready to cut bait on after a disastrous loan to Norwich last season. Edwards is one who has the skills to be amazing, but there remain questions about his maturity and attitude. Alasdair Gold says that whenever he does sign, Spurs will receive some compensation.