Key Points

• Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison made a surprise appearance for the club’s under-21 team in a Jersey Mike’s (EFL) Trophy tie away at League Two side Cheltenham Town.
• The 29-year-old Brazil international scored a 56th-minute equaliser to make it 1-1 and converted his penalty in the resulting shootout following a 2-2 draw, though young Spurs were ultimately defeated 7-6 on spot-kicks.
• Richarlison has been left out of first-team manager Roberto De Zerbi’s 25-man Premier League squad for the current campaign due to non-homegrown player quota restrictions.
• His only senior outing of the season came as a substitute during the opening-day 3-0 defeat against Brentford on 22 August.
• Proposed transfer moves to Everton, Vasco da Gama, and Trabzonspor collapsed in the closing stages of the transfer window, leaving the forward in first-team limbo until January.
• Opposing manager Steve Cotterill, along with local supporters and young academy players, praised Richarlison for his exemplary attitude, autograph signing, and sportsmanship throughout the evening.

Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) October 14, 2026 — Tottenham Hotspur’s out-of-favour striker Richarlison made a headline return to match action on Tuesday night, scoring for the club’s under-21 side during an EFL Trophy encounter against Cheltenham Town at The EV Charger Points Stadium.

How Did Richarlison Perform on His Return to Action for Tottenham’s Under-21s?

As reported by Alasdair Gold of football.london, Richarlison took his place on the left side of Wayne Burnett’s young attack as an allowed overage player in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy group stage fixture. The Brazilian forward neutralised George Miller’s opening goal for Cheltenham by turning home a cross 11 minutes into the second half.

Following Richarlison’s equaliser, youth prospect Miracle Adewole put Tottenham’s under-21s ahead in the 73rd minute. However, Cheltenham striker George Miller struck deep into stoppage time (90+5′) to level the match at 2-2 and force a penalty shootout. As detailed by the official EFL website, Richarlison converted his spot-kick during the shootout, but Cheltenham Town secured the bonus point with a 7-6 victory.

Following the match, Richarlison posted on Instagram:

“Happy to do what I love the most in life. I was missing it!”

As reported by Stroud News & Journal, youth teammates joined Richarlison in his signature ‘pigeon’ celebration following his goal, while opposition manager Steve Cotterill commended the international forward for his professional conduct. Richarlison spent time posing for photos, signing autographs for supporters, and shaking hands with Cheltenham’s young goalkeeper Mamadou Diallo after the shootout.

Why Was Richarlison Excluded From Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League Squad?

As highlighted by football.london, Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi omitted Richarlison from the club’s official 25-man Premier League squad list following the conclusion of the summer transfer window. Premier League regulations dictate that clubs can register a maximum of 17 non-homegrown players over the age of 21. With Tottenham exceeding that quota, De Zerbi elected to leave Richarlison out of the registered squad.

As reported by OneFootball, Richarlison’s sole competitive appearance for the first team this season occurred during the 3-0 defeat against Brentford on 22 August. Because the squad list cannot be altered until the English transfer window reopens in January, the forward remains ineligible for Premier League fixtures for the remainder of the calendar year.

Which Transfer Deals Collapsed Prior to the Closing of the Summer Window?

As outlined by football.london, Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that Richarlison had repeatedly expressed a desire to seek fresh opportunities elsewhere during the summer transfer window. However, potential moves failed to materialise before the transfer deadlines passed.

Talks regarding a return to his former club Everton collapsed during the final days of the English transfer window. Furthermore, a proposed temporary loan move to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama—the team Richarlison supported in his youth—was blocked because Tottenham Hotspur had reached their permitted FIFA limit for international loans. Additional interest from Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor similarly failed to result in a transfer before windows closed across Europe and South America.

Background of the Particular Development

Richarlison joined Tottenham Hotspur from Everton in July 2022 in a high-profile transfer valued at £60 million. Across his tenure in North London, the 29-year-old international—who has earned over 40 caps and scored 20 goals for the Brazil national team—faced persistent injury setbacks and variable team selection under successive managerial tenures.

The appointment of Roberto De Zerbi ahead of the current campaign brought tactical realignments and strict squad roster considerations. Spurs’ active summer recruitment drive led to an excess of non-homegrown senior players. When prospective transfer negotiations with Everton, Vasco da Gama, and Trabzonspor broke down, Tottenham were unable to offload the forward prior to squad submission deadlines. Consequently, Richarlison was left without top-flight registration for the first half of the season, leaving domestic cup competitions at youth level or sanctioned overage reserve matches as his primary outlets for competitive match sharpness.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Tottenham Hotspur and Richarlison

Impact on the Player (Richarlison)

Richarlison’s active involvement and positive attitude with the under-21 squad preserve his physical fitness and marketability ahead of the January transfer window. By displaying professionalism in lower-tier cup competitions, he avoids match-fitness degradation, making him an attractive target for prospective suitors in Europe or Brazil when registration windows reopen. However, continued absence from top-tier football risks impacting his standing with the Brazilian national team selection ahead of international windows.

Impact on the Club (Tottenham Hotspur)

For Tottenham Hotspur, maintaining Richarlison’s fitness through developmental fixtures ensures his asset value does not depreciate rapidly prior to potential January sale or loan negotiations. Furthermore, his presence offers valuable mentorship and experience to academy players competing in the EFL Trophy. However, paying full senior wages to a non-registered player highlights the financial burden of squad over-capacity until a permanent transfer resolution is reached.