Djed Spence has finally completed his protracted move from Middlesbrough to Tottenham Hotspur.
The wing-back tore up the Championship last season during a loan spell at Nottingham Forest. Indeed, Spence's performances played a key role in ensuring Forest won promotion back to the Premier League after more than decades away. Now, he has wrapped up a transfer to Antonio Conte's side that reports say could be worth up to £20million.
However, he has taken the chance to thank fans of his former loan side rather than his parent club Boro. Taking to Twitter, Spence wrote a gushing note of thanks to a club who he played 39 league games for last term.
He wrote: "Nottingham Forest (love heart emoji). What a massive club, what a team & what special fans. We came from the bottom & made it all the way to the top. We turned dreams into reality and I can’t thank you all enough for the special journey we all shared together (firecracker emoji). Once a Red always a Red."
The fact he did not mention or refer to Boro - a club he represented 63 times after first joining in 2018 - may well raise a few eyebrows in the North-east. Spence, aged 21, has signed a five-year deal at Spurs that includes an initial fee of £12.5m. A further £7.5m will be paid to Boro in add-ons depending on certain criteria being met.
Speaking after being unveiled, England under-21 international Spence said: "To play in the Premier League and for a big club like Tottenham, it's a dream come true.
"I'm thankful I'm here and I've got the opportunity to play for the club. It's a privilege to be here. I can't wait to meet the players, the staff and obviously the manager and train with the team. I'm a very chilled character, I'm very humble. Everything's about football with me, I've dedicated my whole life to it. I'll bring excitement, skill, speed. I just want to excite the fans and play well."
Spence is Spurs' sixth signing of the summer as they look to build on last season's top four finish which guarantees them Champions League football in the coming term.
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Conte has already recruited goalkeeper Fraser Forster, defender Clement Lenglet, midfielder Yves Bissouma and forwards Ivan Perisic and Richarlison. They beat off competition from Forest, whose boss Steve Cooper enjoyed a great rapport with Spence last term in their successful promotion push.
Speaking to the Athletic earlier this year, Cooper said of Spence: “I am very fond of him. He is a sensible lad and you can tell that he cares a lot about the next game, about Forest – he loves Forest.
“You can see it in the way he plays. But, if you want to play in this team, you have to have that. He is very respectful. He is laid back, that is probably the right description of him. But when you get engaged in a conversation with him, he is a thoughtful character."
Spence won't have long to wait until he comes up against Forest next season. Spurs are scheduled to visit the City Ground on August 28 with the return game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium pencilled in for March 11 next year.
