Tottenham academy product Shilow Tracey loaned to Shrewsbury Town

It’s an official transfer announcement! Just not one of the ones we’ve been waiting for. Today. League 1 club Shrewsbury Town officially announced that they have secured the services of 22-year old Tottenham Hotspur academy product Shilow Tracey on loan through the end of the 2020-21 season.

It’s Tracey’s second loan after spending some time on loan at League Two Macclesfield Town last year. Tracey was signed from Ebbsfleet United four seasons ago and has been working his way up through the development squads ever since. This will be his highest loan in the divisions.

At 22, this is probably the last loan he’ll get for Spurs, and since it doesn’t look like he’s going to crack the Tottenham first team it will probably be a loan to determine if League 1 is his level. If that’s the case, expect him to be sold next summer. He’s been described as “explosive” but he’s never even sniffed the first team and I can’t recall him ever having trained with them either.

Speaking to the Shropshire Star, Tracey had this to say about his loan.

“I think I’m quite quick, very strong and I’m good at dribbling. I like to get assists and goals – I like to work hard for the team. The EFL Trophy games I played in for Spurs were good. It was very competitive but I just adapted and got through it.

“I will try my best to get some assists and goals for the team. Shrewsbury is the next step for me in my career – I want to improve my game. I see there are a lot of young players here and Shrewsbury have a record of improving their game.”

It’s okay, not every academy product can make it at the top level and Tracey looks like he’s going to be a solid professional even if he doesn’t make it at Spurs. If he does well with Shrewsbury, he could land himself a role on a tier 2 or 3 club, and that’s a success.

Good luck, Shilow!