Done Deal: Tottenham keeper Austin heading to Orlando City on loan

There aren’t too many days left in the January transfer window, but while few expect Tottenham Hotspur to make a big splash in the market, we’re already seeing a number of younger players head out on loan for the rest of the season. Now, it looks like we’re about to see another example of that.

Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas is reporting this morning that 22-year old Spurs academy grad and keeper Brandon Austin is heading on loan to Orlando City for the entirety of the MLS season, without a purchase option.

Update: It’s a done deal! Tottenham have confirmed it!

MLS is on a different calendar to the Premier League, so this season-long loan stretches from March through next December, meaning Austin won’t be back with Spurs until the end of the 2021 calendar year.

This is only Austin’s second-ever loan. Last season he was on loan at Danish First Division side Viborg FF, where he instantly became their first choice keeper. MLS is definitely a step up from Danish first division football, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can establish himself either as a starter or in the rotation at Orlando next season.

Austin has been in a constant friendly competition with fellow academy keeper Alfie Whiteman for what seems like their entire careers, but while Alfie is (as of now) staying with the Spurs U23s, Austin is getting a chance for first team football elsewhere. I have no read as to if that means he’s currently ahead of Alfie in the pecking order or not; presumably a loan is both a sign of encouragement and/or the first step to a potential sale down the road.

Either way, it’s likely MLS watchers will be able to see a talented young Spurs keeper play football on the regular, and that’s pretty neat. It’s not official yet and we’ll update this article if it happens, but presumed congratulations to Brandon. Once finalized, you can follow Brandon’s progress via our Orlando City/Pride sister site The Mane Land.