Tottenham Women extend Dean, Filbey contracts through 2021

Tottenham Hotspur Women will continue to try and establish themselves as perennial members of the WSL in coming seasons, and they’ll do it by building around their best player. Spurs Women announced today that leading scorer and striker Rianna Dean has extended her contract with the club through the 2020-21 season, with an option to continue through the end of the 2021-22 season.

Dean, 21, was a revelation two years ago in Spurs’ outstanding season that saw them promoted to the top flight. That season she was the league’s joint top scorer with 14, along with Manchester United’s Jessica Sigsworth. This season she found goals a lot harder to come by, netting four times, but that was still enough to make her Spurs’ top goal scorer for the second consecutive year.

There’s always a ton of turnover between seasons in English women’s football, because multi-season contracts are unusual except at the top clubs. Extending Dean’s contract is huge for Spurs — she’s one of the club’s best players at the moment, is still super young, and is nowhere near her ceiling. She’s a player that Spurs can build around, and the club clearly plans to do so.

Dean appeared delighted to continue in north London, in comments posted on social media.

Spurs have already announced four player departures and additional ones may follow, but expect some additions as well, probably with WSL experience. With young players like Dean, Angela Addison, Anna Filbey, Kit Graham, and Rosella Ayane on the roster, plus the return of England U19 international Jessica Naz, who missed the entire season due to injury, Spurs have a core of bright young players to build around. Hopefully they can use this season as a stepping stone to even greater things next year.

Update: We have another one! Tottenham also announced today that 20-year old Welsh full international midfielder Anna Filbey has also signed a new contract! Fantastic news!