Djed Spence Joins Inter Milan After Special Chapter at Tottenham
Djed Spence has closed the book on what he called a “special chapter” at Tottenham Hotspur and opened another at Inter Milan, completing a permanent move to the Serie A champions on a five-year deal.
Inter have agreed a fee of around €30 million for the England right-back, who arrives in Milan as the chosen successor to Denzel Dumfries after the Dutchman’s switch to Real Madrid earlier this summer. At 26, Spence walks into San Siro at the peak of his powers, fresh from an outstanding World Cup and with his stock higher than at any point in his career.
From Bilbao nights to a Milan reboot
Spence leaves Spurs after 85 appearances in all competitions, the standout moment coming in that Europa League triumph and the unforgettable night in Bilbao that he referenced in his farewell.
“A special chapter comes to an end,” he wrote on social media before the transfer was confirmed. “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 & most importantly thank you to the fans. Time for a new chapter now, but Spurs will always have a place in my heart. COYS !!!”
His emotional message underlined the bond he forged in north London, but the direction of travel at the club had become clear. Roberto De Zerbi, preparing for his first full campaign in charge, did not see Spence as central to his plans. Only last month, De Zerbi publicly hailed Pedro Porro as the “best in the world” in the right-back position, a pointed endorsement that left little doubt about the pecking order.
The World Cup shifted everything. Spence featured in all eight of England’s matches at the 2026 tournament, starting both the semifinal defeat to Argentina and the third-place playoff win over France. His performances on the biggest stage impressed observers and, crucially, inflated his market value. Tottenham, aware of that surge, moved decisively to cash in.
A deal that pays off for Spurs and Middlesbrough
Spence’s departure also completes a neat financial arc for Spurs. They signed him from Middlesbrough in July 2022 in a £19 million deal, structured with add-ons tied to international milestones. When he made his England debut in September 2025, sources indicate that triggered a £1 million payment back to Boro.
His World Cup inclusion under Thomas Tuchel earlier this summer came as a surprise at the time, but it accelerated everything. Once his performances in Qatar-like conditions lit up the tournament, Spurs knew they were holding an asset at maximum value. Inter, looking for a dynamic replacement for Dumfries and already familiar with Spence from his six-month loan at Genoa in 2024, stepped in.
For Spence, that short spell in Liguria now looks like a useful prelude. He returns to Italy older, more polished, and with a World Cup on his CV.
Changing of the guard at Spurs
The right side of Spurs’ defence now belongs to Porro, but the reshaping of the back line goes further. On the opposite flank, the club have moved quickly to secure Andy Robertson on a free transfer. The former Liverpool stalwart is expected to play a major role at left-back, pushing Destiny Udogie, whose preseason has been disrupted by fitness issues.
The sense of transition was underlined by another major exit: just hours before Spence’s move was confirmed, Tottenham announced that club captain Cristian Romero had completed a transfer to Atlético Madrid. Within a single day, Spurs lost a World Cup-winning centre-back and an England World Cup starter, a dramatic shift in both leadership and experience.
For Inter, Spence arrives as a ready-made solution. For Spurs, his sale is both a financial win and a clear statement of De Zerbi’s defensive blueprint. For the player himself, the question is simpler, and sharper: after a “special chapter” in north London, can he now turn Milan into the defining stage of his career?
