Harry Kane is a Tottenham Hotspur legend. He’s a global icon of the game. He’s one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or.
In recent years, there hasn’t been a better striker in the world. In 2025/26, he scored a jaw-dropping 61 goals for Bayern Munich before bagging another six for England at the World Cup.
However, once upon a time, Kane was a struggling striker in the EFL. His path to stardom hasn’t necessarily been straightforward.
How Kane rose through the ranks at Spurs
We’ve all seen the photo. A young Kane is celebrating a Premier League title win in an Arsenal shirt. He was, after all, in their academy as a boy.
Yet, he was told to pack his bags and find another club. It is one of the biggest mistakes the club’s academy has ever made.
Talking about that situation, former academy manager Roy Massey once told talkSPORT: “Harry was a lovely young player. He was quiet, shy, didn’t have what we thought it would take to become a professional footballer and so we were totally mistaken.”
Massey continued: “I’ve got to say that when Harry was released when he was 11 or 12 years of age, he did go to play for his Sunday league club for the next three years so no other club’s picked him up in that age group. It was only when he was 15 he went to Tottenham and obviously he’s had great success.”
Discussing Kane’s release from Arsenal, Liam Brady further detailed the events, saying: “He was a bit chubby, he wasn’t very athletic but we made a mistake.”
Quite. Since leaving the Gunners, the striker has become the best player in the world.
Yet, as Massey notes, Kane’s pathway hasn’t been a simple one. At Tottenham, the centre forward scored nine goals in 13 official matches for the U21s. He was clinical at age group level but like many trying to make their way, he initially failed to make the grade in senior football.
Loan moves with Norwich, Leicester, Millwall and Leyton Orient all largely saw him fail to set the world alight. Yet, in 2014/15 he suddenly exploded. A 31-goal season at Spurs set the tone for what was to come. He is now one of the greatest ever.
He ended up scoring 280 goals for Tottenham before joining Bayern Munich, where he has found the net on 152 occasions in 154 games.
The new Kane may have emerged at Spurs
Unsurprisingly, Spurs have struggled to replace Kane. Truthfully, they were never going to be able to do so easily.
Dominic Solanke was the chosen man but, particularly for a £65m fee, he has been a poor use of funds. The Englishman did score 16 times during his debut season with the Lilywhites but struggled with form and fitness last time out, netting just six times.
So, what’s the solution? Well, given that Omar Marmoush is without a goal since arriving, he may not be.
Could the academy give Roberto De Zerbi something to think about? Mikey Moore is currently on loan with Koln out in Germany and represents an exciting option. Irish centre forward Mason Melia could be a player to consider in future years too.
Likewise, young Oliver Boast is someone to consider. If you’ve not heard of him yet, you sure will very soon.
Just 17 years of age, the teenager joined Spurs from Leeds in the summer of 2025 after scoring ten goals in 20 official U18 fixtures.
Well, after arriving in north London, he’s been even better. It is safe to say that Boast looks like one of the most clinical strikers to have emerged at Spurs since, dare we say it, Mr Kane.
The youngster is simply having an extraordinary season in front of goal so far, netting 12 goals in just six U18 Premier League matches.
He scored a brace in four consecutive games and then bagged four times in a 7-1 win over West Brom towards the back end of last month.
Boast – to pardon the pun – boasts a ridiculous record and he seems to be getting better. But, apart from the goals, what’s he all about?
Como scout Ben Mattinson outlined when the striker was still at Leeds that he is a “clinical finisher, and has good pace and movement to peel off defenders to create space and receive passes.”
Further scouts have noted that he is an “intelligent” attacker with a “very clean first touch”. Boast is also versatile. While he has predominantly played as a striker at Tottenham, he can also play off the right-hand side.
Unsurprisingly, the former Leeds academy player is yet to make a first-team appearance, but it surely won’t be long before De Zerbi starts to have a look at him.
With a record such as his, it is impossible to ignore him for very long.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
