Djed Spence Joins Inter Milan After Tottenham Exit

Djed Spence has closed the book on his Tottenham Hotspur career and walked straight into a starring role at Inter Milan, sealing a move that underlines just how far his stock has risen in two years.

The England right-back has signed a five-year contract with the Italian champions, with the clubs agreeing a fee of around €30 million. Inter see the 26-year-old as the direct successor to Denzel Dumfries, who left for Real Madrid earlier in the summer, and they are not hiding the scale of that responsibility.

For Spence, it ends what he called a “special chapter” in north London. Four years, 85 appearances, and one standout memory: that Europa League triumph, capped by “that night in Bilbao,” as he described it in a heartfelt farewell on social media.

“A special chapter comes to an end. 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,” he wrote. He went on to thank staff, teammates “who've become family,” and the Spurs fans, signing off with a promise that the club will always have a place in his heart and a final “COYS !!!”

From squad player to World Cup ever-present

Spence leaves Tottenham as a fully-fledged England international and a World Cup mainstay. 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 victory over France. That run did more than elevate his reputation; it also boosted his market value.

Tottenham had signed him from Middlesbrough in July 2022 in a £19 million deal, structured with add-ons linked to international milestones. His England debut in September 2025, according to sources, triggered a £1m payment to Middlesbrough. When Thomas Tuchel named him in his World Cup squad earlier this summer, it raised eyebrows. His performances in the tournament removed any doubt.

The consequence was inevitable. With his price peaking after a strong World Cup and interest growing, Spurs were ready to cash in. Inter, preparing for life after Dumfries, moved decisively.

This will be Spence’s second taste of Italian football after a six‑month loan spell at Genoa in 2024. That stint was brief but important; now he returns not as a loanee fighting for minutes, but as a marquee signing expected to anchor the right flank of a title-chasing side.

De Zerbi reshapes the flanks

Behind the emotion of Spence’s farewell lies a cold tactical reality. Roberto De Zerbi had already begun to redraw the map of Tottenham’s full-back positions.

ESPN had reported that De Zerbi did not see Spence as essential to his plans for the coming season. The head coach made his stance even clearer last month when he described Pedro Porro as the “best in the world” at right-back. That kind of endorsement leaves little room for a second specialist in the same slot, especially one whose value has just surged on the international stage.

On the opposite side, Spurs have moved quickly too. Andy Robertson has arrived on a free transfer after leaving Liverpool and is expected to play a major role at left-back. His presence sets up a direct battle with Destiny Udogie, fitness permitting, after a difficult preseason for the younger defender.

So while the club’s flanks are being rebuilt, Spence finds his path blocked at one end and the hierarchy reset at the other. The timing of his departure is no coincidence.

Tottenham’s changing guard

Spence’s exit did not come in isolation. Only hours earlier, Tottenham confirmed that club captain Cristian Romero had completed a move to Atlético Madrid, another sign of a dressing room undergoing serious change.

The departures of Romero and Spence strip Spurs of experience and World Cup pedigree in one sweep, but they also bring in funds and flexibility as De Zerbi looks to shape a side in his own image. Friendly wins, such as the recent comfortable victory over Hoffenheim powered by a brace from Moore, hint at a team already adapting to new ideas and new faces.

For Spence, the narrative is different. From Middlesbrough prospect to Spurs signing, from a surprise World Cup pick to an ever-present on the biggest stage, and now to San Siro as the man chosen to replace Dumfries. One chapter is over. The next one starts under the lights of Serie A, with Inter expecting their new right-back to pick up where his World Cup summer left off.