Djed Spence
Djed Spence is a dynamic English footballer whose journey has been a whirlwind of dazzling highs, challenging lows, and relentless determination. From making waves in the Championship to navigating complex loan spells and eventually returning to shine on the biggest stages, his story is a testament to perseverance in the demanding world of professional football. We'll explore how this talented full-back carved out his unique path to the top. Djed Spence's electrifying loan spell at Nottingham Forest was a pivotal moment, showcasing his talent and leading them to promotion. His initial move to Tottenham Hotspur was met with public doubt from his manager, impacting his confidence and leading to multiple loan spells. Through resilience and a series of international and club achievements, Spence ultimately established himself as a key player and won a major trophy with Tottenham.
AI Summary
Djed Spence is a dynamic English footballer whose journey has been a whirlwind of dazzling highs, challenging lows, and relentless determination. From making waves in the Championship to navigating complex loan spells and eventually returning to shine on the biggest stages, his story is a testament to perseverance in the demanding world of professional football. We'll explore how this talented full-back carved out his unique path to the top.
- Djed Spence's electrifying loan spell at Nottingham Forest was a pivotal moment, showcasing his talent and leading them to promotion.
- His initial move to Tottenham Hotspur was met with public doubt from his manager, impacting his confidence and leading to multiple loan spells.
- Through resilience and a series of international and club achievements, Spence ultimately established himself as a key player and won a major trophy with Tottenham.
The Journey Begins
Born Diop Tehuti Djed-Hotep Spence in England, Djed Spence emerged from a rich family background, being the younger brother of actress Karla-Simone Spence. With a Jamaican father and Kenyan mother, his roots are as diverse and vibrant as his playing style.
Breaking Through at Middlesbrough
After developing his skills in Fulham's academy, Djed made the move to Middlesbrough on July 1, 2018. His professional debut came swiftly that August in an EFL Cup match, a moment many young footballers dream of. The taste of senior football had begun.
It was in December 2019 that Spence truly announced his arrival. Making his league debut, he quickly followed up with his first league goal — a crucial one in a 1-0 win against Huddersfield Town. This impressive start caught the attention of many.
His burgeoning talent was officially recognized in January 2020. Spence was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month, a clear sign that his impact on the pitch, including helping secure three clean sheets, was significant and undeniable.
A Star on Loan: Nottingham Forest
The summer of 2021 saw a pivotal move for Djed — a season-long loan to Nottingham Forest. This decision proved to be a masterstroke, igniting his career and setting the stage for a truly memorable season for both player and club.
Spence quickly settled in, scoring his first Forest goal in October. But it was his performances in the FA Cup that truly turned heads, dazzling against Premier League giants Arsenal and famously scoring a fantastic goal in a 4-1 thrashing of Leicester City.
March 2022 became 'Djed Spence Month.' He scooped up an incredible hat-trick of awards: the EFL Championship Player of the Month, EFL Championship Goal of the Month for a stunning long-range strike, and his second career EFL Young Player of the Month award — a first for any player!
His incredible form didn't just earn him individual accolades; it was instrumental in Nottingham Forest's fairytale promotion to the Premier League. Spence was deservedly named in both the EFL Championship Team of the Season and the PFA Championship Team of the Year.
The Tottenham Dream and Early Setbacks
His sensational season earned him a big move: a five-year contract with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £20 million in July 2022. It was a dream transfer, yet one that quickly presented an unexpected challenge.
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte publicly described Spence as an 'investment by the club,' rather than his own signing. This candid comment, as Spence later admitted, 'shattered his confidence' and set a difficult tone for his time in North London.
Despite Conte's initial reservations, Spence made his Tottenham and Premier League debut as a late substitute against his former loan club, Nottingham Forest. However, appearances remained limited, with only six by the end of January.
Adventures Abroad: Rennes and Leeds
Seeking more playing time, Djed joined French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais on loan in January 2023. This spell offered valuable experience, including a significant 2-0 victory over giants Paris Saint-Germain at their home ground, Parc des Princes.
Despite promising performances, his minutes at Rennes dwindled after the return of their captain from injury, and a knee injury ultimately cut his loan short, seeing him return to England for treatment.
His next loan move took him back to the Championship with Leeds United in August 2023. He made his debut shortly after, hoping to replicate the success he found in the division previously.
However, another knee ligament injury in training sidelined him until December. Spence showed his resilience, making his comeback and starting five consecutive fixtures for Leeds upon his return.
But his time at Leeds was cut short in January 2024 when the club triggered a break clause in his loan. Manager Daniel Farke cited concerns over Spence's attitude, leading to another challenging return to Tottenham.
The journey continued with a loan to Serie A club Genoa in January 2024. Spence gained valuable experience, making 16 appearances in Italy, though Genoa was unable to meet the £8.5 million option to buy, and he returned once more to Tottenham.
The Tottenham Comeback
Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Spence faced another hurdle, being omitted from Tottenham's Europa League squad. Yet, he remained registered for domestic competitions, a glimmer of hope for a player determined to prove himself.
And prove himself he did. On August 19, 2024, Spence made his first Tottenham appearance in 19 months, coming on as a substitute against Leicester City. His perseverance paid off further when he scored his first competitive goal for the club in an EFL Cup win in September, followed by his long-awaited first start in December — 881 days after signing!
A challenging period of long-term injuries to key defenders opened a door, and Spence seized the opportunity. From December 2024 to February 2025, he received an extended run in the starting lineup, even earning Player of the Match honors against Manchester United.
His resurgence culminated in his first Premier League goal in a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town. He was then part of the squad that competed in the 2025 UEFA Europa League final, coming on as a substitute to help Tottenham secure their first trophy in 17 years. A truly remarkable turnaround!
This incredible form was cemented with a new long-term contract signed on August 18, 2025, a testament to his hard work and commitment through all the ups and downs.
International Recognition
Spence's talent didn't go unnoticed on the international stage. In March 2022, he received his first call-up to the England Under-21 squad, making his debut in a decisive 3-0 victory against Albania in a European Championship qualifier.
The ultimate honor came on August 29, 2025, with his first call-up to the senior England squad. In a historic moment, he became the first Muslim player to receive a call-up to the senior men's team, making his debut in a 5-0 World Cup qualifier win against Serbia.
Style of Play and Honours
Djed Spence primarily operates as a right-back, renowned for his blistering pace and exceptional dribbling ability. Football pundits have lauded his dynamic qualities, with Ian Wright describing him as 'combative, technical, swashbuckling' and Wes Morgan comparing his effortless style to a 'Rolls-Royce'.
Key Achievements
EFL Championship play-offs: 2022 UEFA Europa League: 2024–25 EFL Young Player of the Month: December 2019, March 2022 EFL Championship Player of the Month: March 2022 EFL Championship Goal of the Month: March 2022 EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2021–22 PFA Team of the Year (Championship): 2021–22
Article
Djed Spence
Diop Tehuti Djed-Hotep Spence (born 9 August 2000), known simply as Djed Spence, is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team.
Early life
Djed Spence
Spence is the younger brother of actress Karla-Simone Spence. He was born in England to a Jamaican father and Kenyan mother.
Club career
Middlesbrough
Spence signed for Middlesbrough on 1 July 2018, having previously been with Fulham's academy. He made his debut for Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup on 14 August 2018, appearing as a substitute versus Notts County at the Riverside Stadium. Spence made his league debut for Middlesbrough in a 1–0 win over Charlton Athletic on 7 December 2019, scoring his first league goal in a 1–0 win against Huddersfield Town on 26 December 2019.
On 11 January 2020, Spence won the EFL Young Player of the Month following his league debut, first goal, and three clean sheets.
Nottingham Forest (loan)
On 1 September 2021, it was announced Spence would join Nottingham Forest on loan for the remainder of the season. He scored his first goal for Forest in a 3–0 win over Birmingham City on 2 October. Spence impressed in FA Cup victories over Premier League clubs Arsenal and Leicester City, scoring the fourth in a 4–1 victory over the latter.
Spence was awarded the EFL Championship Player of the Month award for March 2022 as well as being nominated for the Goal of the Month award following his long range strike against Queens Park Rangers which he was ultimately awarded. Having also been nominated for the Championship Young Player of the Season, Spence made it a hat-trick of awards for March 2022 when he won the EFL Young Player of the Month award for the second time in his career, becoming the first player to win it twice in the process.
Spence played a vital role in Nottingham Forest's promotion winning side, and was featured in both the EFL Championship Team of the Season and the PFA Championship team of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur
On 19 July 2022, Tottenham Hotspur announced the signing of Spence on a five-year contract, for a reported fee of £20 million. Manager Antonio Conte swiftly disowned the signing, describing Spence as "an investment by the club." Spence later revealed that this "shattered [his] confidence."
Ahead of Tottenham's game against Nottingham Forest on 29 August, Conte praised Spence for his efforts in training; he rewarded him with his Tottenham and Premier League debut, bringing him on as a late substitute in a 2–0 win. Further appearances were limited, however: Spence had made just six by the end of January.
Loan to Rennes
On 31 January 2023, Spence joined French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais on a loan until the end of the 2022–23 season. He made ten appearances for Rennes, including nine starts, one of which was a 2–0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes, the Parisian team's first league defeat at home in 23 months.
Spence's minutes became limited after Rennes captain Hamari Traore returned from injury in April, and the loan was cut short by a knee injury which saw Spence return to England for treatment.
Loan to Leeds United
On 30 August 2023, EFL Championship club Leeds United announced the signing of Spence on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur. He made his debut for the club in a Championship fixture against Sheffield Wednesday on 2 September, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 draw.
On 18 September 2023, Spence suffered a knee ligament injury in training that would see him out of action for until December. He made his comeback from injury on 9 December, playing 20 minutes against Blackburn Rovers and went on to start Leeds' next five Championship fixtures.
On 4 January 2024, Leeds triggered a break clause to terminate Spence's loan spell, seeing him return to Tottenham Hotspur. Leeds manager Daniel Farke said the decision was made due to concerns about Spence's attitude.
Loan to Genoa
On 11 January 2024, Spence signed for Serie A club Genoa on a loan deal until the end of the season. He made 16 Serie A appearances for the Rossoblù in the second half of the season. However, the club was unable to meet the option to buy fee of £8.5m at the end of his loan spell and he returned to Tottenham Hotspur.
Return to Tottenham Hotspur
Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Spence was omitted from Tottenham's Europa League squad. He was, however, registered for domestic competitions.
On 19 August 2024, Spence made his first appearance for Tottenham since January 2023 in their opening fixture of the 2024–25 season, replacing Pedro Porro as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Leicester City in the Premier League. He scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 2–1 EFL Cup win over Coventry City on 17 September. His first start for Tottenham came on 15 December 2024 (881 days after signing for the club) in a 5–0 win against Southampton.
Following long-term injuries to defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Destiny Udogie, Djed Spence received an extended run in the Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup from December 2024 to February 2025. Spence was named Player of the Match for his performance in Tottenham's 1–0 win over Manchester United on 16 February 2025. On 22 February 2025, Spence scored his first Premier League goal in a 4–1 win over Ipswich Town. He was selected in the squad that played the 2025 UEFA Europa League final, entering the game as a substitute, and helping Tottenham to win their first trophy for seventeen years.
On 18 August 2025, Tottenham announced that Spence had signed a new long-term contract with the club.
International career
Djed Spence
In March 2022, Spence earned a first international call up to the England Under-21 squad for the European Championship Qualifying matches against Andorra and Albania. He made his debut as a substitute during a 3–0 victory away to the latter on 29 March 2022.
Spence was called up to the senior England squad for the first time on 29 August 2025. He became the first Muslim player to receive a call up to the senior men's team. On 9 September 2025, Spence made his debut for the English senior squad in a 5–0 victory against Serbia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, replacing Reece James in the 69th minute.
Style of play
Djed Spence
Spence primarily plays as a right-back, and is known for his pace and dribbling ability. He has been praised by Ian Wright, who described him as "combative, technical, swashbuckling", and Wes Morgan, who compared him to a Rolls-Royce.
Career statistics
Club
<table><thead><tr><th>Club</th><th>Season</th><th>League</th><th>National cup</th><th>League cup</th><th>Europe</th><th>Other</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Division</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td></tr><tr><td>Fulham U23</td><td>2017–18</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Middlesbrough</td><td>2018–19</td><td>Championship</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>2</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2019–20</td><td>Championship</td><td>22</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>24</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>2020–21</td><td>Championship</td><td>38</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>40</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>2021–22</td><td>Championship</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>4</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>63</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>70</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Middlesbrough U23</td><td>2018–19</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Nottingham Forest (loan)</td><td>2021–22</td><td>Championship</td><td>39</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>46</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Tottenham Hotspur</td><td>2022–23</td><td>Premier League</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>6</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>Premier League</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>Premier League</td><td>25</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>35</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>2025–26</td><td>Premier League</td><td>24</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>38</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>53</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>14</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>79</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Rennes (loan)</td><td>2022–23</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>10</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Leeds United (loan)</td><td>2023–24</td><td>Championship</td><td>7</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>7</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Genoa (loan)</td><td>2023–24</td><td>Serie A</td><td>16</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>16</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Career total</td><td>186</td><td>5</td><td>11</td><td>1</td><td>11</td><td>1</td><td>16</td><td>0</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>232</td><td>7</td></tr></tbody></table>
International
<table><thead><tr><th>National team</th><th>Year</th><th>Apps</th><th>Goals</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>England</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>3</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>1</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>4</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody></table>
Honours
Djed Spence
• EFL Championship play-offs: (/wiki/2022EFLChampionshipplay-offfinal)
• UEFA Europa League: 2024–25
• EFL Young Player of the Month: December 2019, March 2022 • EFL Championship Player of the Month: March 2022 • EFL Championship Goal of the Month: March 2022 • EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2021–22 • PFA Team of the Year: 2021–22 Championship