Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that Djed Spence has become their sixth signing of the summer after reaching an agreement with MIddlesbrough for the sale of the defender.
Spurs have announced that the right-back has penned a five-year-deal at the club, signing a contract that runs until the summer of 2027, although his shirt number has not yet been confirmed.
Tottenham had been linked with the 21-year-old for the majority of the transfer window but have now got a deal over the line, as he follows in the footsteps of Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison and Clement Lenglet in walking through the doors at Hotspur Way.
On completion of his move to north London, Spence told the Spurs website: “Playing in the Premier League, and at a big club like Tottenham Hotspur, is a dream come true. I’m just thankful that I’ve got here and I’ve got the opportunity to play for the club.
“Everyone wants to play in the Premier League and as a kid you watch it. Tottenham are a big club, they’ve got Champions League football and obviously you’ve got some of the best players that play here, so it’s a privilege to be here.”
Spence will hope to play his part in Tottenham’s remaining pre-season fixtures against Rangers on July 23 and Roma on July 30, before making his full debut against Southampton on August 6 when they kick off their 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
He joined Middlesbrough in July 2018 after leaving Fulham ’s academy and went on to make 70 appearances in all competitions for the north east outfit, but it was last season during his loan spell with Nottingham Forest where he really gained his recognition.
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After featuring in Middlesbrough’s first four games of the 2021/22 campaign, Spence joined Forest on a season-long loan on September 1 and went on to make 46 appearances across all competitions for the east midlands outfit, recording three goals and five assists.
The 21-year-old played a huge part in helping Steve Cooper’s side reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, but more importantly achieving promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years after winning the play-off final against Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium.
As a result of his fantastic campaign at the City Ground, Spence scooped numerous personal awards, including a personal highlight in March when he won a hat-trick of honours in the form of the EFL Championship Player of the Month, EFL Championship Goal of the Month and, for the second time in his career, the EFL Young Player of the Month.
In the same month, he was also called up to the England Under-21 squad for the first time for their Under-21 European Championship Qualifying matches, and made his debut against Albania on March 28, while he was also named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season and the PFA Championship Team of the Year at the end of the campaign.
Spurs currently have Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal as their designated wing-backs, but it is thought that Spence will come straight in ahead of the pair as Conte’s new right-wing back, as part of his preferred 3-4-3 formation, after the duo have failed to fully convince the Italian that they can fulfil the role of a consistent basis.
