Inter Milan have finalized a £30 million agreement to bring England international defender Djed Spence to the San Siro. According to sources at Sky Sports News, the deal also contains a 10% sell‑on clause that will benefit Tottenham should the player be transferred again in the future. The 23‑year‑old full‑back was granted permission to travel to Italy for a medical examination while the two clubs continued to hammer out the details of the move.
After the medical, the parties confirmed a total package worth £30 million, effectively ending weeks of speculation. Spence made a strong impression on the world stage during England's run to a third‑place finish at the 2022 World Cup, showcasing his pace, attacking instincts and defensive reliability. Despite his rising profile, his prospects at Tottenham appeared limited for the upcoming campaign. The Spurs have established Pedro Porro as the preferred right‑back, while the left‑side positions are contested by a deep pool of talent including Destiny Udogie, Andy Robertson, Soumaïla Coulibaly (often referred to as Souza) and Ben Davies.
This crowded competition suggested that Spence would struggle to secure regular first‑team football under the current hierarchy. Inter, on the other hand, have been actively seeking a fresh option at right wing‑back. Their pursuit of French winger Moussa Diaby from Al Ittihad stalled, prompting the Italian side to turn their attention to Spence as a viable alternative. The club sees him as a player capable of adding width, speed and defensive solidity to their back line, fitting neatly into Antonio Conte's tactical framework.
Spence entered the negotiations with three years remaining on his Tottenham contract, plus an optional extra year. He has expressed a clear desire to move, citing the positive experience he enjoyed during a six‑month loan spell with Genoa in early 2024. That stint in Serie A gave him a taste of Italian football and helped him adapt to the league's tactical demands, making the prospect of a permanent move to another Italian club even more appealing.
Tottenham originally acquired Spence from Middlesbrough in July 2022 for an initial fee of £12.5 million, potentially rising to £20 million with add‑ons. The new £30 million fee therefore represents a significant profit for the North London side, more than doubling the amount they initially invested.
Mark McAdam of Sky Sports highlighted the financial upside for Spurs, noting that while fans may be disappointed to lose a player who showed flashes of brilliance—especially during the World Cup—the club will benefit from a sizable windfall that can be reinvested in the squad. "Spurs fans will remember his moments of brilliance," McAdam said. "He shone for England on the biggest stage, and now the club is recouping more than twice what they paid for him." The transfer also aligns with Tottenham's broader strategy of preparing for potential departures. The club has reportedly been scouting several candidates who could step into Spence's role, ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining depth across the full‑back positions.
In summary, Inter's £30 million acquisition of Djed Spence provides the Italian giants with a dynamic, attack‑oriented defender who can thrive in a wing‑back system, while Tottenham secure a lucrative return on a player they signed just two years ago. The inclusion of a 10% sell‑on clause further sweetens the deal for the Spurs, guaranteeing future earnings should Inter decide to move Spence on again. This move underscores the increasingly fluid nature of the transfer market, where clubs balance immediate squad needs with long‑term financial planning. The transfer has been widely reported across various sports news outlets, and fans of both clubs are already speculating on how Spence will fit into Inter's lineup and what impact his departure will have on Tottenham's defensive options for the next season.