David Bentley Bio Send To Friend  

David Bentley joined Tottenham Hotspur in July 2008 from Blackburn Rovers after agreeing a six-year contract. The deal was worth an initial fee of £15million with a further £2million payable on future performances.

The talented winger became one of the Premier League's hottest properties over the course of the 2007/08 season after a string of excellent performances on the right wing, and call-ups to the senior England team.

In his time at Blackburn Bentley made 133 appearances, scoring 21 goals.

He initially joined Rovers from Arsenal on a season-long loan in August 2005, but having impressed in the first half of the season the talented forward sealed a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

A consistent performer Bentley made the right-wing position his own with some great performances.

He made his Blackburn debut in a 0-0 draw at Bolton Wanderers and made 23 league starts in his first season, scoring twice; in the 2006/07 campaign he bagged four goals from 36 league starts and impressed further with his speed, guile, crossing and range of passing.

Bentley was handed his Arsenal debut in January 2003, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute of the 2-0 FA Cup Third Round win over Oxford United.

He had impressed when moving through the ranks of both Arsenal and England - he was an international with England at Under-15 and Under-16 levels and captained the Under-18s. He won his first Under-21 cap in 2003/04.

At the time Bentley preferred a deep-lying striker's role but his hopes of following Dennis Bergkamp in that position at Arsenal were dashed when the Gunners signed Robin van Persie.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger suggested he would be involved more during the 2003/04 season, and he was true to his word. After featuring in the Carling Cup games, Bentley hit his first Gunners goal, a fine effort from outside the area, in the 4-1 FA Cup win over Middlesbrough.

That led to a Champions League debut against Celta Vigo in February and a Premiership bow against Portsmouth at the end of the campaign.

Arsenal chose to send Bentley out on loan for the 2004/05 season, to give him a real shot at first team football; Premiership newcomers Norwich City won the race for his signature.

The then Canaries boss Nigel Worthington believed Bentley could take the Premiership by storm after he had made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, but ultimately the player struggled for both form and fitness throughout his season at Carrow Road, playing 28 games and scoring just twice.

Having failed to make a lasting impression at Norwich Bentley returned to Arsenal and handed in a transfer request which was accepted by Wenger and led to his loan and subsequent full-time move to Blackburn.

Controversially Bentley pulled-out of Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 squad for the 2007 UEFA U-21 European Championships saying he needed to rest over the summer in order to prepare for the coming season with Blackburn.

Frustratingly for Pearce, so late was Bentley's decision that he was unable to name a replacement for his squad. David Bentley joined Tottenham Hotspur in July 2008 from Blackburn Rovers after agreeing a six-year contract. The deal was worth an initial fee of £15million with a further £2million payable on future performances.

The talented winger became one of the Premier League's hottest properties over the course of the 2007/08 season after a string of excellent performances on the right wing, and call-ups to the senior England team.

In his time at Blackburn Bentley made 133 appearances, scoring 21 goals.

He initially joined Rovers from Arsenal on a season-long loan in August 2005, but having impressed in the first half of the season the talented forward sealed a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

A consistent performer Bentley made the right-wing position his own with some great performances.

He made his Blackburn debut in a 0-0 draw at Bolton Wanderers and made 23 league starts in his first season, scoring twice; in the 2006/07 campaign he bagged four goals from 36 league starts and impressed further with his speed, guile, crossing and range of passing.

Bentley was handed his Arsenal debut in January 2003, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute of the 2-0 FA Cup Third Round win over Oxford United.

He had impressed when moving through the ranks of both Arsenal and England - he was an international with England at Under-15 and Under-16 levels and captained the Under-18s. He won his first Under-21 cap in 2003/04.

At the time Bentley preferred a deep-lying striker's role but his hopes of following Dennis Bergkamp in that position at Arsenal were dashed when the Gunners signed Robin van Persie.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger suggested he would be involved more during the 2003/04 season, and he was true to his word. After featuring in the Carling Cup games, Bentley hit his first Gunners goal, a fine effort from outside the area, in the 4-1 FA Cup win over Middlesbrough.

That led to a Champions League debut against Celta Vigo in February and a Premiership bow against Portsmouth at the end of the campaign.

Arsenal chose to send Bentley out on loan for the 2004/05 season, to give him a real shot at first team football; Premiership newcomers Norwich City won the race for his signature.

The then Canaries boss Nigel Worthington believed Bentley could take the Premiership by storm after he had made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, but ultimately the player struggled for both form and fitness throughout his season at Carrow Road, playing 28 games and scoring just twice.

Having failed to make a lasting impression at Norwich Bentley returned to Arsenal and handed in a transfer request which was accepted by Wenger and led to his loan and subsequent full-time move to Blackburn.

Controversially Bentley pulled-out of Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 squad for the 2007 UEFA U-21 European Championships saying he needed to rest over the summer in order to prepare for the coming season with Blackburn.

Frustratingly for Pearce, so late was Bentley's decision that he was unable to name a replacement for his squad.