Dennis on new deal: “I love being part of this group”

Araya Dennis spoke of her delight to commit her future with the Club after penning a new deal.

The young forward has signed a new, long-term contract after another year of progression with the Club, having signed her first professional contract with us in February, 2024.

Following a loan spell with Women’s Super League 2 side Southampton during the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, the England youth international has featured in five games this term, including making her WSL debut in our season opener against West Ham United.

Opening her account in Lilywhite in December, 2024, in the 2-1 win over her former side Crystal Palace in the Women’s League Cup, Araya feels this is the perfect environment to continue her development as a young player.

“I'm a character, they say,” she laughed, speaking on the squad. “They're just really good people to be around. They make it comfortable and they make me feel in the environment, which is important for me to be able to thrive - both on and off the pitch. They've allowed me to do that by just being them, being good people.”

Asked about Head Coach Martin Ho, she added: “His attention to detail is probably the most I've seen in any coach and he's obviously really passionate and he cares a lot about everything and everyone.”

First signing for us as an 18-year-old, before spending the rest of the 2023/24 campaign at Palace, it can be a daunting experience as a youngster to enter a completely new building with new faces around.

However, two years later, it’s fair to say Araya feels right at home at Spurs – and she praised a lot of her team-mates for helping feel settled at the Club.

Asked on which team-mates have been there the most for her, she said: “I'd say probably the most would be Clare [Hunt] and Cathinka [Tandberg] in terms of like outside of football, I probably speak to them outside the Club the most. But, in the building, it's everyone.

“You've got Drew [Spence] and Bethany [England] are two of the older players, but they are always making sure I'm like good - even though I probably annoy Drew the most because I'm the youngest as well!

“They are all like big sisters to me, they're all just really good girls. It does feel like there's a nice environment at the moment that everyone is a part of, feels like people are pulling in the right direction.”