Djed Spence Transfers to Inter Milan: A New Chapter
Djed Spence has closed the book on what he called a “special chapter” at Tottenham Hotspur, sealing a move to Inter Milan that underlines his rise from squad option to World Cup ever‑present.
The England right-back has signed a five-year contract at San Siro, with the fee between the clubs understood to be around €30 million. Inter have moved decisively, lining Spence up as the long-term replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who joined Real Madrid earlier in the summer.
From north London to the Nerazzurri
Spence leaves Spurs with 85 appearances to his name and one standout memory towering above the rest: the club’s Europa League triumph, capped by that famous night in Bilbao which he referenced in his farewell message.
“A special chapter comes to an end,” he wrote on social media before the transfer was officially announced. “It’s been some journey, with plenty of memories, moments and experiences that I’ll carry with me for forever, especially that night in Bilbao.
“Thanks to all the staff members who’ve helped me along the way, the players who’ve become family & most importantly thank you to the fans. Time for a new chapter now, but Spurs will always have a place in my heart. COYS !!!”
The emotion in his words contrasted sharply with the cold logic behind Spurs’ decision. Roberto De Zerbi, appointed to reshape Tottenham’s next era, never truly built his plans around Spence. Only last month, the Italian labelled Pedro Porro the “best in the world” in the right-back position, a pointed endorsement that underlined where Spence sat in the pecking order.
Once the World Cup finished, the market did the rest.
World Cup springboard
Spence arrives in Milan on the back of a defining summer. He featured in all eight of England’s matches at the 2026 World Cup, starting the semifinal defeat to Argentina and the third-place playoff win over France. It was a demanding run, and he came through it as one of Gareth Southgate’s most trusted options on the right.
That tournament was the culmination of a steady international climb. Spurs had signed him from Middlesbrough in July 2022 in a £19 million deal, structured with add-ons linked to England appearances. His senior debut for the national team in September 2025 is understood to have triggered a £1 million payment to Boro, a milestone that looked significant at the time and now feels like an early marker of his upward curve.
Then came his surprise inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad earlier this summer, and the platform that followed. Spence impressed in Qatar’s successor showcase, his value rising with every assured display. Inside Tottenham, the conversation shifted: a player who was not central to De Zerbi’s vision had suddenly become a major asset. The club chose to cash in.
Spurs reshape the flanks
Tottenham’s full-back department is undergoing a sharp reset. While Spence heads for Serie A, Spurs have moved to the opposite side of the pitch by bringing in Andy Robertson on a free transfer. The former Liverpool defender is expected to compete heavily for the left-back role, especially if Destiny Udogie can shake off the fitness issues that dogged his preseason.
On the right, Porro stands as the clear first choice under De Zerbi. The message is unmistakable: Tottenham want specialists tailored to the manager’s aggressive, front-foot style, and they are willing to move on from players who don’t quite fit that blueprint, no matter how strong their resale value or World Cup pedigree.
Spence’s departure also comes at a moment of wider upheaval. Just hours before his transfer was confirmed, Spurs announced that club captain Cristian Romero had completed a move to Atlético Madrid, stripping the dressing room of one of its most vocal leaders and one of its starting defenders in the same window.
Back to Italy, bigger stage
For Spence, this is not uncharted territory. He returns to Italy for a second spell, having spent six months on loan at Genoa in 2024. That stint was brief but useful; this one is designed to define his prime years.
At 26, he walks into an Inter side that expects to challenge for the Scudetto and go deep in the Champions League. Dumfries leaves sizeable boots to fill, but Spence arrives with World Cup minutes in his legs, a European trophy on his CV and a point to prove to those who saw him as expendable in north London.
Tottenham, meanwhile, bank a healthy profit on a player they once viewed as a long-term project. They signed him as an emerging talent from the Championship, watched him grow into an England regular, then sold him at the peak of his value.
Inter get their new right flank runner. Spurs get their reset and their funds. Spence gets his new chapter.
The only question now is how far this one will take him.
