Dele Alli has revealed he was abused at the age of six and was dealing drugs by the time he was just eight years old.
In an emotional interview, the Everton midfielder fought back tears as he laid bare his difficult upbringing before he was adopted by the Hickford family.
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Alli also told Gary Neville in The Overlap podcast he had battled a sleeping pill addiction, only coming out of rehab last month as he struggled with his mental health.
“When I came back from Turkey, I came in and I found out that I need an operation and I was in a bad place mentally,” the England international, who spent last season on loan at Besiktas, said.
“I decided to go to a modern-day rehab facility for mental health. They deal with addiction, mental health, and trauma.
“It was something that I felt like it was time for.
“With things like that, you can’t be told to go there — you have to know, and you have to make the decision yourself, otherwise it’s not going to work.”
Alli said he had been able to mask his difficulties.
“I was caught in a bad cycle,” he said.
“I was relying on things that were doing me harm. I was waking up every day and I was (looking like I was) winning the fight, you know, going into training, smiling, showing that I was happy.
“But inside, I was definitely losing the battle and it was time for me to change.
“When I got injured and they told me I needed surgery, I could feel the feelings I had when the cycle begins and I didn’t want it to happen anymore.
“I went (to rehab) for six weeks and Everton were amazing about it. They supported me 100 per cent and I’ll be grateful to them forever.”
Alli, a key part of the England side that reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, laid bare the sickening abuse he received as a child, saying he was “molested” at the age of six.
“I was sent to Africa to learn discipline, and then I was sent back,” he said.
“At seven, I started smoking, eight I started dealing drugs.
“Eleven, I was hung off a bridge by a guy from the next estate, a man.
“Twelve, I was adopted. I was adopted by an amazing family. I couldn’t have asked for better people to do what they’d done for me.
“If God created people, it was them.”
England captain Harry Kane, a former teammate of Alli’s at Tottenham, tweeted he was proud of the midfielder “for speaking out and sharing his experience to try and help others”.
An Everton statement said the club “respects and applauds Dele’s bravery to speak about the difficulties he has faced, as well as seek the help required”.
If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491
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