Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that winger Kenny McEvoy has left the side to join York City after the player sought help from his lawyer to find a way out of the club. McEvoy, 21, released a statement via his Twitter account on Monday 4 January 2016 detailing his efforts to leave the north London club. Tottenham have since confirmed his departure through a brief statement on their official website.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international explained he made his decision to cut ties with Spurs five months ago, but needed help from a lawyer to get out of the club. McEvoy also thanked Tottenham supporters, but felt he had to take the decision to leave the club to be "happy playing as a first-team player" and get the "chance to prove people wrong".

He now joins York on a permanent basis having initially joined the club on loan in November. The winger was quoted as saying by the Irish Independent in April 2015 that Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino had awarded him a new contract after impressing the manager in an Under-21s match, and was hopeful he could follow the likes of Harry Kane and Ryan Mason into the first team.

"Harry was always a natural goalscorer for the youth team we played together in, but at a top Premier League club like Tottenham these days, you have to wait your chance," McEvoy said last year. "The gaffer [Pochettino] saw me score against Notts Forest in an Under-21 game recently and has given me a new contract. That shows he must have belief in me."

With his move to York confirmed, McEvoy's personal statement read, "I can now tell you that after five years at Tottenham today I am officially no longer a Tottenham Hotspur player. In my own head I made the decision five months ago that I wanted to elsewhere to start my career as a first-team player as I did not see it happening at Tottenham no matter how much effort I gave it.

"I can't thank my lawyer enough [for] helping me to get out and Tottenham finally agreed a month ago to let me go. Thank you to my wife for putting up with my decision and all the rubbish in the meantime not knowing what's happening and having to put her own life on hold but at least now it is down to me which is what I have always wanted.

"The decision was purely my own and wherever I go next I know that I will now be happy playing as a first-team player and have the chance to prove people wrong that have ever doubted me. Thank you to the fans at Tottenham that did support me, I appreciate every one of you. Let's see where the future takes us."

More about Tottenham
Premier League