Richarlison scores for Spurs under-21s in EFL Trophy as registration row keeps him out of Premier League squad

On 13 October 2026 Richarlison scored for Tottenham’s under-21s against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy, appearing in only his second outing of the season as Spurs’ reserves lost the tie 7-6 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Less than four years after representing Brazil at the 2022 World Cup, the £60m signing from Everton looked almost embarrassed to celebrate a thumping half-volley and later converted a penalty in the shootout. The 29-year-old has made only one Premier League appearance this season and his EFL Trophy outing was his first game since the end of August against Brentford, after being left out of Tottenham’s 25-man league squad.

Richarlison’s absence from the senior squad followed a transfer window saga in which a proposed return to Everton collapsed on deadline day after he expressed a desire to leave. Roberto de Zerbi said of the forward: "He decided everything alone," and added: "He spoke with me at the beginning of the pre-season and told me his idea and desire was to leave. At the end we go to bring another striker [in] and, like I said at the beginning of the pre-season, I want to keep the players, just the players that want to stay and be proud and with the right passion to stay here. Then for everything and other problems, it is not my business and not my job. It is the responsibility of the club. I can't say nothing because I didn't decide anything. The message of Richarlison from the beginning of the season has been very clear. I accepted that and for me [there is] nothing [to say]."

A separate proposed move to Vasco da Gama also fell through after Richarlison failed to agree personal terms, and he was ruled out of Spurs’ Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool because only players registered in their club's respective league squad were eligible to feature in the competition. The article notes the EFL Trophy group stage has offered him a rare chance to pick up competitive minutes before January.

Tottenham’s struggles in front of goal provide the immediate backdrop: the side have scored just three times, are the top-flight’s lowest scorers this season and sit second bottom in the table. Since arriving from Everton, Richarlison has scored 27 top-flight goals in 103 appearances; he was also described in the report as Tottenham’s leading scorer last season, "netting 11 times in 32 appearances as they narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship," and the piece adds that the decision to leave "last season's 12-goal leading scorer" out of their league plans looks increasingly difficult to justify.

Dominc Solanke’s late equaliser against Manchester United was noted as the first Premier League goal from a Tottenham forward since Richarlison’s goal against Chelsea in May, and former England striker Alan Shearer questioned Solanke’s quality on Match of the Day, describing him as "nowhere near good enough." De Zerbi was nonetheless reported as pleased with Solanke’s performance and contribution after his first goal of the season rescued a point at Old Trafford despite Spurs being reduced to 10 men, amid a summer in which the club spent £300m on new recruits and failed to score in their first four Premier League games while supporters held banners urging the team to find the net.

Just six games into the new Premier League season, the report suggests Tottenham may already regret not registering Richarlison in their league squad, while the striker faces time playing in England’s lower-league environs with the EFL Trophy providing his most immediate route to match minutes before January.