After joining Tottenham Hotspur as a 15-year-old, very few people would have heard of Harry Kane, but nearly two decades on, he’s now one of the most talked-about talismen in world football.
He emerged through the youth system in North London, before nailing down his place in the first team squad and subsequently breaking a whole host of long-standing club records.
There’s no doubt that the most impressive is his tally of 280 goals for the Lilywhites – a figure that makes him the highest goalscorer in the club’s 143-year history.
However, he’s since moved to Bayern Munich and carried over his incredible record to Germany, netting 103 goals in his 106 outings across all competitions after his £82m transfer in 2023.
Everyone knows Kane for his remarkable efforts in front of goal in the present day, but many aren’t aware of his tremendous rise as a youngster, which has led him to his world-class status.
Harry Kane
435
280
Jimmy Greaves
376
266
Bobby Smith
316
211
Heung-min Son
454
173
Martin Chivers
350
167
Harry Kane’s youth record at Tottenham
Unlike a lot of footballers in the present day, Kane’s journey to stardom was not a straightforward one, with numerous bumps and transitions appearing throughout his journey to professional success.
He once played for bitter rivals Arsenal as a youngster, but was released by the Gunners for being “too chubby” – but he was given a golden opportunity to further his career by Spurs at 15.
His rise was rapid for the Lilywhites, earning a scholarship just a year after his arrival – a feat that is often unheard of given the sheer competition for a career in professional football.
However, his success was all the more remarkable considering he transitioned into a centre-forward from his original central midfield role, but such a decision would prove to be an immediate success.
Tangible success was seen as a result in his first year at U18 level, as Kane netted a phenomenal return of 18 goals in just 22 outings, which in turn led to his first appearance in a first-team matchday squad in 2009/10.
There’s been no looking back for the England international since, but who will be the next player to make a name for themselves out of the Lilywhites’ impressive academy setup?
The player who could be the next Kane for Spurs
After the return of Fabio Paratici at Spurs this week, it would be a surprise to no one if the Italian tried to delve into the market to land a new talisman in the months ahead.
Richarlison has shown early glimpses of promise over recent months, scoring three times in the Premier League, but he’s struggled to meet the expectations demanded on him by Thomas Frank in recent weeks.
The Brazilian is now without a goal in his last four outings, with fellow striker Dominic Solanke also unable to make the desired effect due to his constant struggles with his ankle.
The aforementioned duo have cost the club upwards of £115m combined, but ultimately have failed to deliver the goods on a constant basis – with Paratici needing to rectify such business.
He could easily save the club millions in the years ahead should he put trust and faith in academy star Ashiah Haughton-Sinclair, with the teenager a player with a huge future in North London.
At just 14, it may appear as though he will have to wait a while for his first-team opportunity, but there’s no reason why he can’t force himself into the reckoning, given his staggering record.
It’s been claimed that the teenager has already racked up over 400 goals at various academy levels, with his name now one of the biggest talking points behind the scenes in North London.
He’s been featuring above his age group for the last few seasons, with Haughton-Sinclair often featuring for the U15 and U16 sides during the early months of 2025/26.
Last season alone, he netted 65 goals, but he’s continued his incredible goalscoring feats this time around, already finding the back of the net on 30 separate occasions.
He’s also laid on ten assists for his teenage teammates, taking his tally to 40 combined goal contributions – a simply remarkable feat given it’s only October.
As a result of his tremendous form, Haughton-Sinclair was recently named in the England U15 squad, capping off what has been a sensational few months for the youngster.
There’s little denying that he has a long way to go before making his mark in the professional game, but he’s already been handed a scholarship two years ahead of schedule, which highlights the faith shown in him by the club.
Should he continue on his current development path, there’s no reason why he can’t be the next big star to emerge out of the Lilywhites academy and potentially reach the levels achieved by Kane.