Tottenham’s Jamie Donley makes instant impact with last-minute assist on Stoke City debut

20-year-old Tottenham academy graduate, Jamie Donley, wasted no time making his mark in the Championship after sealing his loan move.

Jamie Donley was one of several young Tottenham Hotspur players to head out on loan last week, joining Stoke City for the 2025/26 season.

It’s a move that raised a few eyebrows among Spurs fans, especially given his incredible year at Leyton Orient, where he bagged 19 goal contributions in 52 appearances and became a firm fan favourite.

The Northern Irishman’s stock has been rising for some time. Former Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens labelled him a “special talent”, while even Pep Guardiola was full of praise after Donley’s long-range strike forced an own goal in an FA Cup tie against Manchester City back in February.

Despite some bright moments in pre-season friendlies against Luton and Reading, Thomas Frank opted to send the youngster out to gain Championship experience. And if his first outing is anything to go by, it’s already paying off.

Jamie Donley impresses for Stoke after Tottenham Hotspur loan

The Tottenham academy graduate capped off his Stoke debut with a brilliant assist for Sorba Thomas in the 99th minute, sealing a 3-1 win over Derby County.

It wasn’t straightforward for the Potters, who found themselves 1-0 down until the 70th minute. An incredible comeback saw them turn things around late on, with two stoppage-time goals swinging the result in their favour. Donley’s moment came deep into added time, as he showed great vision to thread the decisive pass for Thomas to finish.

Donley not only adapted to the physicality of the championship quickly but also delivered when it mattered most, exactly what you want to see from a young loanee.

Did Tottenham make the right call loaning Jamie Donley out?

With James Maddison sidelined for much of the season due to an ACL injury, some Spurs fans have questioned whether Donley could have been kept around as a rotation option in the number 10 role.

He ticks the homegrown box for UEFA competitions and offers versatility, having been used in multiple positions, from attacking midfielder to both flanks and even full-back.

However, while his talent is clear, the 20-year-old still lacks Premier League experience. Relying on him as a regular starter in Maddison’s absence would have been a risk, and sitting on the bench would hardly aid his development. Regular Championship minutes are far more valuable at this stage.

Donley has already shown he can handle senior football, and this loan spell could be the final step before he breaks into Tottenham Hotspur’s first team next season. Strong on both feet and adaptable across the pitch, the signs are there that his breakthrough is only a matter of time.