STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC has announced the addition of former Tottenham Hotspur FC forward Kazaiah Sterling to its 2022 USL League One roster on a two-year contract, pending league and federation approval.
The North London native made his professional debut in the UEFA Champions League at 19 years and 27 days old, making him the youngest Spurs player to appear in the European tournament. Sterling subbed on for Dele Alli in the 88th minute for Tottenham’s final group stage match against APOEL Nicosia in 2017.
Sterling, 23, regularly appeared for the Tottenham U23 side and has made over 100 appearances in top European competitions – including the UEFA Champions League, England’s FA Cup and the Premier League 2. Tormenta FC’s latest signing has also represented the England National Team at the 2015 U17 FIFA World Cup in Chile.
Notably, Sterling appeared for Tottenham in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup against Crystal Palace, coming on for Brazilian international Lucas Moura in the 81st minute.
“Kazaiah is a well-rounded forward with good movement in behind, an ability to link play, and aggression against the ball,” Tormenta FC Head Coach Ian Cameron commented. “These attributes are exciting to coach, and our midfielders will thrive off his energy in front of them. There’s no doubt his education at Tottenham Hotspur has been formative in his development.”
Sterling spent time on loan to EFL (English Football League) League One sides Sunderland AFC and Doncaster Rovers FC and EFL League Two side Southend United. A final loan to Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton FC saw him fulfill his contractual duties with Tottenham Hotspurs in 2021.
“The transition to Tormenta FC is made easier by virtue of his experiences on loan at clubs like Southend and Greenock Morton in the past calendar year,” Ian Cameron commented. “There, Kazaiah learned his trade in a less-privileged environment, thus arriving more determined than ever to reach the top leagues again. We must all appreciate there is a transition period for all internationals to American soccer, no matter what level a player comes from. It is our staff and players’ responsibility to help him with that and provide a platform for him to do his part, score goals and lead the line.”
Prior to being promoted to the Tottenham first team, Sterling played in 39 Premier League 2 matches, where he scored 19 goals and averaged a goal every 155 minutes. Sterling was named the Premier League 2 Player of the Month in January 2019 after both scoring and assisting in two PL2 matches.
“I’m really excited to get over there and meet up with the team and get to see the fans,” Sterling stated about his next move. “I’ve got positive spirits going into this season, and my goals for the season are to help the team win the league by scoring, assisting and creating goals – also by helping the team in any way I can.”
In 2015, Sterling was called up to represent England in the U17 World Cup, appearing in all three World Cup group stage matches for the Three Lions. The roster featured Everton midfielder Tom Davies, Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bristol City defender Jay DaSilva.
Sterling joins an already impressive roster with eyes set on the 2022 USL League One championship. The forward will bolster Tormenta FC’s attack with newly announced Kingsford Adeji, Arthur Bosua and Tobias Otieno. Additional player signings, kit reveals and more are expected in the coming weeks, so fans should download the Tormenta FC app or follow the club on social media to stay up to date.
Tormenta FC is excited to open its new 5,300-seat stadium in 2022, which will become the largest purpose-built soccer stadium in the state of Georgia. Supporters can now purchase season tickets in advance to guarantee their spot at every home match, available with 12-month payment plans. The club also offers Flex Ticket packages which include ten General Admission or Storm Zone 1 (VIP) tickets redeemable at any regular-season home match.
For additional information and scheduling interviews, call (478-508-2604) or email bodonnell@tormentafc.com.
