Premier League footballer Dele Alli has spoken out after armed robbers burst into his house, held him at knife point and punched him in the face - describing it as a 'horrible experience'.
The Tottenham and England star was targeted by masked raiders who broke into his £2million north London mansion and attacked him in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
It is the third time top footballers have been targeted in the area in ten months - including fellow Spurs star Jan Vertonghen who was targeted in March.
Robbers demanded Alli hand over valuables during the raid at his property, near Barnet, where he has been isolating with girlfriend Ruby Mae, his brother Harry Hickford, Harry's partner and a long-term friend.
Alli and his housemates were reportedly playing pool when the balaclava-clad robbers burst into the house.
The masked men stole valuables, including two watches, it has been reported.
Now the Spurs star has taken to Twitter to thank those who shared messages of support.
He said: 'Thank you for all the messages. Horrible experience but we're all okay now. Appreciate the support.'
As Sportsmail exclusively revealed, the Tottenham and England midfielder was thumped in the face during the ordeal but did not suffer serious injury.
Two males wearing balaclavas broke into the back of the property before threatening the Spurs star — who has been isolating with his brother Harry Hickford, their two partners and a long-term friend.
Following a scuffle, during which Alli suffered a minor facial injury, the two culprits took various items including jewellery and watches before fleeing.
The 24-year-old's property is covered by CCTV and the footage has been passed on to the police, who have opened an investigation.
The player and his model girlfriend Ruby Mae, who is 23, have been together since early 2016.
She was by his side at the Euros that sumer and the 2018 World Cup in Russia before they split for a short time early last year.
They were back together by last summer with Alli reportedly flying Ruby out to Madrid for the Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool at the start of June.
As a youngster, Alli moved in with the Hickford family following a difficult upbringing.
Alli and his Spurs team-mates are expected to return to training at the start of next week as the Premier League work towards a June 12 restart date.
A police spokesman said: 'Police were called at approximately 00:35hrs on Wednesday, 13 May to reports of a robbery at a residential address in Barnet.
'Two males gained entry to the property and stole items of jewellery, including watches, before fleeing.
'One male occupant of the property, aged in his 20s, suffered a minor facial injury after being assaulted. He did not require hospital treatment.
'No arrests; enquiries into the circumstances continue.'
The latest incident is the third time in ten months that a football has been targeted by raiders in north London.
Alli's team-mate Jan Vertonghen fell victim to robbers earlier this year.
The Belgian's wife and young family were at home - he was away on Champions League duty - when four men broke in armed with knives, demanding cash and jewellery.
Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac were chased for a mile by knife-wielding motorbike riders in an attempted daylight car-jacking in north London in July last year.
Ozil, a £350,000-a-week midfielder, was ambushed by the robbers as he drove his black Mercedes G-Class through leafy Childs Hill in Hampstead.
But as the thugs surrounded the 4x4, Ozil's Arsenal teammate and childhood friend, Sead 'The Tank' Kolasinac, leapt out and bravely took them on.
But rather than that being the end of the drama, the players were then chased through the mansion-lined streets of north London in Ozil's 4x4 in a high-speed chase that lasted for more than a mile.
Ozil sped off and overtook traffic on the wrong side of the road as 'ninja style' masked moped muggers gave chase.