Inter Milan Sign Djed Spence for £30m from Tottenham
Inter Milan have sealed a £30m move for England defender Djed Spence from Tottenham, ending a stop-start spell in north London and dropping him straight into the heart of Simone Inzaghi’s title-chasing machine.
The agreement includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause, with Spurs set to profit again if Spence’s career takes off in Serie A. The full-back was granted permission to travel to Italy on Friday for his medical while the clubs thrashed out the final details. By the weekend, the numbers were locked in: a total package of £30m and a fresh start for a player who never quite broke through at Spurs.
From World Cup spark to Spurs logjam
Spence arrives at San Siro on the back of an impressive summer. He was one of the standout performers in England’s run to third place at the World Cup, his energy and attacking intent from wing-back catching the eye on the biggest stage.
Back at Tottenham, though, the picture looked crowded. Pedro Porro is entrenched as first-choice right-back, while the left flank is packed with options: Destiny Udogie, Andy Robertson, Souza and Ben Davies can all operate there. Minutes were always going to be a fight. Too many bodies. Not enough grass.
Inter, by contrast, have been crying out for a new right wing-back. Their pursuit of Al Ittihad’s Moussa Diaby stalled, and the search moved quickly towards Spence. A player built for a back-three system, with the legs to run the touchline and the confidence to attack, suddenly looked like the perfect fit.
Italy calls again
Spence still had three years left on his Spurs deal, with an option for a further year, but his mind was already half in Italy. A six-month loan at Genoa from January 2024 changed the trajectory of his career. He adapted, he impressed, and he liked the rhythm of Serie A.
So when Inter came calling, the decision did not take long.
Tottenham originally signed Spence from Middlesbrough in July 2022 in a deal worth up to £20m, a transfer driven by chairman Daniel Levy. Two years on, they walk away with more than double the £12.5m initial outlay, a healthy profit on a player who never nailed down a starting spot in north London.
A farewell with feeling
Before boarding the next chapter of his career, Spence addressed Spurs supporters directly on X.
“A special chapter comes to an end,” he wrote. “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 and most importantly thank you to the fans.
“It’s time for a new chapter, but Spurs will always have a place in my heart. COYS!!”
The message underlined what his Spurs career became: brief flashes, a sense of unfinished business, and the feeling that there was always more to come.
Spurs plan their next move
Inside the club, there is a mix of satisfaction and frustration. Sky Sports News’ Mark McAdam summed up the mood: supporters have seen “his brilliance in flashes” and watched him shine for England at the World Cup. They know what he can be.
They also know the numbers. Spurs paid £12.5m to Middlesbrough in 2022 and are now banking more than twice that. On paper, it is sharp business. On the pitch, it feels like a gamble – letting go of a player who could yet grow into a major figure in European football.
Tottenham have not walked into this blind. They have been preparing for Spence’s exit and already have potential replacements lined up, ready to keep the full-back rotation turning as they reshape the squad.
Inter, meanwhile, have made their move. A £30m bet on a 24-year-old wing-back who has already shown he can handle the international stage and the Italian game.
If Spence explodes in Milan, this deal will be remembered very differently on both sides of the continent.
