Dele Alli debt dispute with Instagram jeweller flares as Como announces contract termination

A public dispute over a £6,000 debt involving Dele Alli has flared on social media, a week after the former England midfielder saw his contract with Como formally terminated. Ard Adz, a rapper-turned-jeweller, posted a fiery Instagram video on Friday morning in which he publicly pressed Alli to settle an outstanding payment for a bracelet purchased in central London.

Adz, who says he was recently released from prison, shared messages between himself and the 29-year-old midfielder that were later deleted, pleading for help from his roughly 200,000 followers. “Can someone please, please message Dele Alli to get me my £6,000, please!” Adz said in the video, adding: “He’s meant to have footballer money, please. I just got out of jail four months ago, I need that butter (money). Alli, what you doing? I thought you were on the right wing, left wing, I can’t see you brother. My £6,000, please!”

The posts and accompanying messages were circulated as fans and followers engaged with the saga. Later that day, Adz offered an update promising relief for his own finances if Alli settled the debt. On Friday afternoon, Adz wrote: “Update: dele has now paid, allow him now guys & thanks for making him pay. Internet is undefeated.”

The dispute unfolded against a backdrop of Alli’s recent professional setback in Italy. Como confirmed a mutual termination of his contract earlier this month, ending a short-lived stint with the Serie A club. Alli had joined Como in January on an initial 18-month deal with the option of an additional year, but his time at the club was hampered by limited playing opportunities and disciplinary concerns.

According to club statements, Alli made just one appearance for Como, coming on as a substitute and receiving a red card for a rough challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek of AC Milan. Manager Cesc Fabregas subsequently indicated that Alli was not part of the club’s plans for the 2025–26 campaign, and Como emphasized that the mutual termination was aimed at allowing Alli to pursue regular playing time elsewhere. The club thanked Alli for his time and wished him well.

Alli’s career arc has been marked by a meteoric rise followed by a sharp downturn. He burst onto the scene with MK Dons before a high-profile move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2015. The 2016–17 season saw him score 22 goals across competitions, cementing his status as one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders and earning England caps, including a role in the 2018 World Cup squad. A run of injuries and form dips coincided with off-field issues, contributing to a decline that led to spells at Everton and a loan to Besiktas in 2022. While Alli still has supporters who recall his peak years, his later career has been characterized by instability, transfers, and periods without regular first-team action. As the public exchange over a £6,000 debt demonstrates, Alli’s profile remains high even as he navigates the challenges of life after top-flight football.

The intertwined threads of a personal debt dispute and a professional departure underscore how social media publics can intersect with a player’s career trajectory. While the £6,000 owed to Adz appears resolved, the broader narrative of Alli’s post-Premier League years continues to unfold, with details of potential future club offers and contract talks taking place away from the glare of the spotlight. For now, the two separate episodes—the public call-out and the contract termination—mark a notable moment in the career of a player who once stood at the pinnacle of English football.