Peckham, Ronaldo, taekwondo: ten facts about Djed Spence

Born in London on 9 August 2000, Diop Tehuti Djed-Hotep Spence started playing football at a young age for his local side, Peckham Town. After spending some time with Croydon Junior Elite, Spence was spotted by Fulham and joined the Cottagers' Academy. At 16, he moved to Middlesbrough, where he made his professional debut. In 2021, he joined Nottingham Forest on loan, helping the club win the Championship and earn promotion to the Premier League. After signing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2022, Spence spent time on loan at Rennes in France, Leeds United and, between January and June 2024, Genoa. Back at Tottenham, Djed enjoyed a standout season, winning the Europa League in 2024/25. Last season, the full-back made 41 appearances, earning a place in England's squad for the 2026 World Cup, where the Three Lions went on to claim third place.

PECKHAM AND ITS ROLE MODEL

Spence grew up in Peckham, a district in south London, where he took his first steps in football. The area also produced another great name in English football history: Rio Ferdinand, the legendary centre-back and a key figure for Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United and England. Spence had the pleasure of meeting Ferdinand, as the former defender had been a role model for him and many other youngsters from Peckham since he was a child; Djed's father would always tell him Rio's story as an example to follow. Whenever they passed Ferdinand's house, his dad would remind him where a great player like Rio had started out: Rio is an important part of Peckham's culture.

TAEKWONDO

As a child, Djed did not only play football: for a period, Spence also practised taekwondo, a martial art that originated in South Korea and is based primarily on fighting techniques using kicks. Taekwondo has also been part of the Olympic programme since the 1988 Games in Seoul.

A FAMILY FULL OF TALENT

Djed is not the only talented member of the Spence family. His sister, Karla-Simone Spence, is an actress and voice artist who has worked mainly across various English television series and programmes.

JAMAICA AND ENGLAND

Spence was born in London to Jamaican parents. A reflection of his multicultural background, Djed says he feels particularly Caribbean through his passion for Jamaican music and food. His more typically English traits can be found in his British humour and his appreciation of a cup of tea for breakfast.

THE NERAZZURRI LEGEND

Spence's favourite Nerazzurri legend? His answer is very simple: R9, Ronaldo Nazário. No explanation is really necessary, considering the Brazilian is one of the greatest players ever to grace a football pitch.

HIS TIME AT GENOA

As mentioned, Djed spent six months on loan at Genoa in 2024, between January and June. The experience gave him the chance to get to know Serie A and Italian football, as well as grow as a person. During that spell, the Englishman shared a dressing room with Josep Martinez, now an Inter goalkeeper. At Genoa, his teammates nicknamed Spence Chill Guy, because of his laid-back personality. "Why? Because I'm a Chill Guy!"

HIS FIRST TIME AT SAN SIRO

During his six months with the Rossoblù, Spence made 16 appearances, all in the league. One of them, however, was more special than the others: Inter-Genoa 2-1 on 4 March 2024 at San Siro, when Djed came on in the 62nd minute to play his first 28 minutes at the Milan stadium. An unforgettable experience at the stadium that has now become his home too.

GODSPEED

Spence often uses the hashtag #GODSPEED on his social media profiles, a word that is also printed on a bracelet he regularly wears. For him, the meaning lies in the word itself: everything in the world moves at the speed intended by God. Djed is ready to face every situation because he has faith that everything is in God's hands.

NERAZZURRI FROM ACROSS THE CHANNEL

Spence has become the fifth Englishman in Inter's history. The first was Gerry Hitchens, the striker who played for Inter between 1961 and 1962, making 43 appearances and scoring 20 goals. More recently came Paul Ince, The Governor, the combative midfielder who wore the Inter shirt between 1995 and 1997, making 73 appearances and scoring 13 goals, and Ashley Young, who was at the Club between January 2020 and June 2021, making 59 appearances, scoring five goals and winning the Scudetto. In Milan, Spence will reunite with John Stones, the fourth Englishman in Inter's history, the defender with whom he shared the experience of the North American World Cup, where the Three Lions finished third.

INTERESTS OFF THE PITCH

An eclectic character with a range of interests away from football, Djed loves spending time with his large family, who follow and support him every step of the way. Fashion is certainly another of his passions: Spence believes it is an important way of expressing his personality.