Frank could be about to reap the rewards of Tottenham transfer for Postecoglou
Wilson Odobert poised for breakthrough at Tottenham in 2025/26 under Thomas Frank
The upcoming 2025/26 campaign may prove to be a defining one for Wilson Odobert at Tottenham Hotspur, as the talented French winger prepares to make his long-awaited impact under the guidance of new head coach Thomas Frank. With a fresh chapter beginning at Spurs, Frank will be eager to unlock the full potential of the 20-year-old and help steer the North London club toward a season filled with ambition, growth, and perhaps even silverware.
Odobert, who joined Tottenham from Burnley in August 2024 in a deal reported to be worth around £30 million, endured a frustrating debut season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Despite arriving with high expectations, his contributions were limited to just 21 appearances across all competitions due to injury setbacks — most notably a serious hamstring injury suffered during a Carabao Cup clash with Coventry City.
Yet, in those fleeting moments on the pitch, Odobert offered Spurs fans several exciting glimpses of his talent. One of his standout performances came during Tottenham’s memorable Europa League campaign, where he played a pivotal role in their journey to lifting the trophy. His brace in the second leg of the Round of 16 against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar turned the tie on its head. Having lost the first leg 1-0, Spurs needed inspiration — and Odobert delivered it in style with a dazzling performance to secure a 3-1 victory on the night and progression to the quarter-finals.
Later in the season, he notched his first Premier League goal in a 1-1 away draw against West Ham United, a significant moment that hinted at the winger’s capabilities when fit and firing. Odobert also impressed on his Premier League home debut against Everton, displaying flair, pace, and an eye for goal, though consistency remained elusive as he battled to regain match sharpness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The injury at Coventry severely disrupted his momentum. Sidelined for five months, the setback meant Odobert was forced into a catch-up role, unable to build rhythm or firmly stake his claim for a regular starting spot in Ange Postecoglou’s plans. Nevertheless, former boss Postecoglou was a firm admirer of Odobert’s natural abilities, describing him as an “enormously exciting talent” following the winger’s match-winning heroics in Europe.
“Super pleased for him because he’s worked awfully hard,” Postecoglou said at the time. “I’d be surprised if I have to explain why I selected him — if you didn’t see that today… He’s one of these players who has the ability to take players on, find space, great technician. He’s worked hard silently to get back in the team.”
The Australian also acknowledged the challenging start Odobert had faced since arriving in North London, with his early momentum cruelly derailed by injury. “It didn’t work out for him through no fault of his own… it’s been frustrating for me not to be able to showcase him. That’s just the starting point for him.”
Looking ahead, the task of guiding Odobert’s development will fall to Thomas Frank, a coach renowned for his ability to nurture young talent and extract the best from emerging players. The Danish tactician will likely already be familiar with Odobert’s attributes, having seen him up close when the winger featured for Burnley against Brentford in the 2023/24 season. In one of those games, Odobert produced a sublime assist, threading a clever pass through to David Datro Fofana, who netted the decisive goal in a 2-1 Burnley win — a moment that likely left an impression on Frank.
With Frank now tasked with ushering in a new era at Spurs, there is optimism that Odobert could thrive in a system designed to play to his strengths: explosive pace, creative flair, and an ability to beat defenders one-on-one. However, competition for places in the Tottenham attack remains fierce. The squad is stacked with wide options including Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, Mathys Tel, Manor Solomon, Mikey Moore, Bryan Gil, Son Heung-min, Richarlison, and rising South Korean talent Yang Min-hyeok.
Odobert will need to battle hard to earn his spot in what is arguably one of the most competitive areas of the team. Still, the French U21 international has shown he has the tools to succeed at the highest level — and he appears ready to embrace the challenge.
Now fully recovered and with a full pre-season under his belt, Odobert could finally be set to announce himself on the Premier League stage. If he stays fit and continues to build on the promise he has shown, Tottenham fans may well get to witness the real Wilson Odobert — a player capable of lighting up matches, turning tight games in Spurs’ favour, and becoming a key figure in the club’s pursuit of glory under Thomas Frank.