Djed Spence joins Inter

Peckham is a district just south of the River Thames, a link between central and south London that has developed into a dynamic, multicultural area full of energy and change in the 21st century. It is a place where artists and musicians thrive, brought to life by the meeting of different communities and cultures around Rye Lane and Peckham High Street. Amid the busy streets, markets, parks and football pitches, sport has always been a natural part of everyday life for young people. And it was here, wearing the shirt of Peckham Town, the local amateur club at the heart of the community, that Diop Tehuti Djed-Hotep Spence took his very first steps in football.

Spence was born in London on 9 August 2000 to Jamaican parents, and from an early age he knew that football was the sport for him. He played whenever he could, whether at school or in the park, where he and his friends would set up makeshift goals by the fences. It was his mother who first took him along to Peckham Town when Djed was six. The club signed him up and Spence began his first experience in organised football, which also provided one of his fondest early memories: scoring an overhead kick in his first kit. Five years later came an important turning point. Spence recalls an away game in Croydon, south London, against a team called Junior Elite. On a cold, snowy day, the hosts won by more than ten goals and, after the match, his mother once again offered him some advice: "You should play for them."

In Croydon, Spence began to make a name for himself as an attacking winger. He loved Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, whose stickers he kept on the fridge, but Cristiano Ronaldo was his idol. He tried to emulate the Portuguese star's style, dribbling and creating chances out wide, until one day his coach at Junior Elite asked him to play at full-back. After Spence impressed in the new role, his coach decided to keep him there. Djed continued his development as a player capable of operating up and down the flank, eventually joining the Fulham Academy, where he spent two years from 2016 to 2018. His time in the Cottagers' youth ranks attracted plenty of attention, and Middlesbrough decided to invest in his potential. After a season of settling in, he made his Championship debut against Charlton Athletic on 7 December 2019. Just 19 days later, on Boxing Day, he scored his first goal, netting the winner in a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.

His time at Middlesbrough never quite took off, but Djed remained patient and confident that his chance would come. That opportunity arrived in 2021, when he joined Nottingham Forest on loan. Spence flourished with the Reds, enjoying an outstanding season as he helped the club win promotion to the Premier League and caught the eye with impressive FA Cup performances against Arsenal and Leicester. That breakthrough season prompted Tottenham to bring him back to London in the summer of 2022.

His impact at Spurs was not immediate, however. Once again, Djed relied on his patience and strong work ethic, taking on new challenges in different environments. Tottenham opted to send him out on loan, starting with his first experience abroad at Rennes in France, followed by spells at Leeds and then Genoa in Serie A. He spent six months with the Rossoblù, from January to June 2024, making 16 Serie A appearances and showing glimpses of his quality and versatility, often featuring on the left flank. During his time at Genoa, he also faced Inter for the first time in his career. On 4 March 2024, the Nerazzurri won 2-1 at San Siro as they continued their march towards the Second Star, with Spence coming on in the 63rd minute.

His strong performances in Italy convinced Tottenham to put their faith in him for the 2024/25 season. It was the moment his patience and hard work began to pay off, and a turning point in his career. On 19 August 2024, he returned to Premier League action for Spurs before gradually establishing himself as an important member of the squad, growing in influence as the season progressed. He also came off the bench in the Europa League final, which Tottenham won 1-0 against Manchester United.

That season also led to his senior England debut, which came on 9 September 2025, before he went on to establish himself as an important player for the Three Lions at the 2026 World Cup. Playing at the World Cup had been one of his childhood dreams, dating back to the days when he would watch England at school with his classmates, but a serious jaw injury threatened to rule him out. Spence did everything he could to be involved, playing the opening matches with a specially designed protective brace and playing a key role in England's run to third place.

A powerful, technically gifted wing-back who excels in one-v-one situations and possesses impressive acceleration, Spence plays with energy and attacking intent. He is always ready to get forward and take on his opponent, while also capable of impressive defensive interventions, as he demonstrated at the World Cup against Argentina with a superb recovery challenge on Giuliano Simeone. Calmness and composure are defining traits of his personality, qualities inherited from his family that are also evident in his game. He knows when to pick his moment to take on an opponent and when to step in defensively. It is a balance of power and control, instinct and composure that makes Djed Spence a wide player capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch. Now, after a journey that began on the pitches of Peckham and has taken him to some of football's biggest stages, his story continues in Nerazzurri colours. Djed Spence is a new Inter player.