As a child, I always had a ball nearby. I remember going over the park with my dad and brother; we played football most nights after we finished school. I liked a few different sports, but football was the one I pursued. My football journey started aged just seven down the road from my home in Chingford, at my boyhood club, Ridgeway Rovers.

At the age of eight, I got the opportunity to join Arsenal’s football academy before joining Spurs. I continued playing for my school team as well, sometimes up to five times a week. I just loved playing football as much as possible.

I really feel I came into my own in the U18s in the 2009/10 season when I scored 18 goals in 22 appearances. I also made the bench for the first team twice that season and, although I never came on, it made me hungrier than ever to get into the first team and make it to the top level.

In January 2011 I joined League One team Leyton Orient on loan for the rest of the season, to get a chance to play some first-team football.

I ended the season with five goals in 15 appearances and knew I had to keep on working hard to reach an even higher level.
Competition is tough in the lower leagues, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

On my sixteenth birthday, I got awarded a scholarship to progress in the Spurs Academy, this was a team which I had been following a long time. It was such a nervy experience as a teenager - you literally either get told you’re staying or going there and then in one meeting with your parents and academy director.

On 25 August 2011 I made my Tottenham debut against Hearts in the Europa League.

Later that year I joined Championship side Millwall, again on loan. Being in a proper relegation battle was an experience I will never forget and the goals I scored helped win me the Millwall Young Player of the Year Award.

Internationally, I moved up to play for England U19s at the 2011 Euros.

Joining Tottenham Hotspur was a pivotal moment in my career. When I signed my first professional contract, my dream was to play in the first team. The next season I got put out on loan; I was buzzing to get the chance to play some first-team football. I scored on my first start and bagged 5 goals in 15 appearances. Later that season, I joined Millwall on loan. I even won Millwall Young Player of the year! My loan at Millwall was a big part of my development. I was eighteen, we were in a relegation battle, and it turned me into a man. I played in difficult, high-pressure games. It was a moment when I realised what it all meant. The prospect of defeat was terrible, and I felt that. People were playing for their livelihoods, we needed to win.

After making my debut, I had loan moves to Norwich City and Leicester City. It was during the following season that I managed to score my first goal in the Premier League, an incredible moment for me. I quickly took it on the turn from a cross inside the penalty box and turned it into a goal, all my teammates joined in the celebrations. I couldn’t believe that I had scored for my boyhood club! From that goal onwards, I went on to become Tottenham Hotspur’s all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing Jimmy Greaves’ record. If someone had told me at the beginning of my career what I would achieve with Spurs, I would never have believed it.

Today, after so many years, I understand the benefit of going on loan and the resilience I learnt which made me stronger as a football player and as a person. The memories created with my teammates, coaches and staff will forever hold a special place in my heart.

My Premier League debut was against Newcastle United during the 2012/13 season. I had so much pride knowing my hard work, dedication and self-belief was paying off. The opportunity to wear the Spurs jersey, to step onto the pitch at White Hart Lane and, later, at the new stadium, filled me with immense pride.

I got my first and second Player of the Month awards in the 2014/15 season and ended the season on 21 Premier League goals. I won the PFA Young Player of the Year award and was named in the PFA team of the year.From seasons 2015/16, I won various awards such as Player of the Months, Premier League Golden Boots, became Tottenham’s highest Premier League goal scorer in a single season, hit the 20-goal mark for the third season running, becoming only the fourth player in the Premier League history to do so, most goals in all competitions in Europe and reached a Champions League final.

The 2020/21 season was a season of landmarks for me personally, scoring my 200th goal for club and country and going on to claim a third Premier League Golden Boot and the playmaker award for the most assists in that Premier League season.

Moving to Bayern Munich was a new chapter in my footballing journey. The opportunity to play in the Bundesliga, the club’s rich history, and the chance to challenge myself in a different league were factors I couldn’t overlook. The transfer was a bit of a mad experience to be honest. I didn’t really know what to expect, as I’d been at Spurs for 19 years and was really happy there. So I was stepping out of my comfort zone- it was a first for me to feel how these transfers happen, and to be part of one. My official debut was in the DFL- Supercup, where I came on in the second half. Stepping onto the pitch at the Allianz Arena and hearing the drums and looking at all the banners and flags. It gave me goosebumps. The fan culture in Germany blew me away from the start. My official debut in the Bundesliga was against SV Werder Bremen, where I scored in the 74th minute. My first goal was an incredible feeling. I received a cross from halfway up the pitch, I could see the goalkeeper coming out towards me, and the defender getting tighter to me, so slotted it in the left corner of the goal. I ran to the crowd, and when I turned back, there came the rest of my teammates, running to hug me.

Coming to Bayern Munich was a big step for me and the most important decision of my life- not only career-wise but personally as well. It has been a privilege to learn from a different footballing culture and to compete at the highest level in European football.

It felt amazing to make my debut. The atmosphere there was something special, and I’ve since realised that wasn’t a one-off. German football has some of the most passionate fans I’ve seen.

I'm really proud to have broken individual records already this season, such as being the first player in Bundesliga history to reach 17 goals in my first 11 games of the season. I want to keep scoring goals, breaking records, and hopefully getting a team trophy.

Things in football come together at the right time and Bayern were there and I was excited by the challenge I faced going there. I've really enjoyed it, playing in a new stadium, new fanbase, and I'm happy with how I've started.

Representing England on the international stage has been the ultimate honour; I’ve always wanted to play for the national team. Every call-up, every match, was a chance to make my family, friends, and country proud. Wearing the Three Lions crest and competing against the best in the world is an experience that words cannot describe. The pride and passion for playing for England have always been a driving force for me, a commitment to give my all and leave a mark on the international stage.

Throughout my journey, there were defining moments that stood out. It was a dream come true when I got called up to play in the England national under-17 team. This marked the beginning of my journey. A few years later, I got called up to make my England debut, this was special, very special. I managed to score within 79 seconds! The following year, I had the privilege of representing England in my first major tournament in France. Another highlight came the next year when I led my country out for the first time as captain in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland. And then, in the next year, I was honoured with the role of England Captain and led my team to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. A great tournament and a lot of special memories, including winning the World Cup Golden Boot.

In March 2013, I celebrated becoming England’s all-time leading goalscorer by scoring over 54 goals. This surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton's record, someone who I’ve always looked up to. I broke this record during a match against Italy, which also happened to be the team’s first win in a long time. It was an incredibly special night, one that I had only dreamt of when I was younger. Needless to say, it was a moment I’m extremely proud of. I am truly grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way.

The teams I am in have really good chance of winning those trophies. The next aim with England is to win Euros in 2024, we came extremely close in the last one and that made us hungrier to come back and win this one.