Inter Zeroes In on Djed Spence as Dumfries Successor

Inter’s long, awkward search for Denzel Dumfries’ successor finally has a clear frontrunner – and a familiar face to Serie A.

Reports in both Italy and England now align: Djed Spence is on the brink of joining Inter from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth €30m plus add-ons. La Gazzetta dello Sport first outlined the figures, Football Italia amplified them, and The Athletic has now echoed the same numbers from the UK side of the negotiation.

For Inter, this is a move born out of persistence as much as planning. Dumfries’ move to Real Madrid ripped a key piece out of Simone Inzaghi’s structure. The right flank that had been a constant source of power and width suddenly needed rebuilding.

The first attempts misfired. Chelsea snatched Atalanta’s Marco Palestra at the last moment. Anan Khalaili looked like a smart, modern pick from Union Saint-Gilloise, only for the deal to collapse after a failed medical. Each near-miss tightened the pressure on Inter’s directors.

Now, that pressure looks to have pushed them towards a solution with a different profile – one with Serie A mileage already on the clock.

A versatile answer to a tactical question

Spence, who turned 26 at the weekend, offers something Inter value deeply: flexibility. He can operate on either flank, as a full-back or as a wing-back, and that matters in an Inter system that demands intensity, intelligence, and constant running from its wide players.

Inter are coming off a glittering 2025-26 campaign, crowned with a Serie A and Coppa Italia Double and another ticket to the Champions League. Any new arrival in those wide roles is not just filling a gap; he’s stepping into a team that expects to dominate and to do so immediately.

All the main outlets agree on one key detail: Spence is enthusiastic about the move. For a player whose career at Tottenham never truly ignited, the chance to join a title-winning side in Italy’s top tier, with European nights guaranteed, represents a major reset.

From Genoa understudy to Serie A opportunity

This would not be Spence’s first taste of Italian football. Tottenham sent him on loan to Genoa from January to June 2024, initially as back-up to Stefano Sabelli. On paper, he arrived as an understudy. On the pitch, he refused to stay one.

Spence forced his way into the side, often on the left flank, and closed out the loan spell with 16 competitive appearances. It was enough to convince many that Genoa had unearthed a bargain. They held an option to buy for €10m in June 2024. They chose not to trigger it.

That decision now stings. With Inter ready to commit €30m plus bonuses, Genoa’s missed opportunity has become one of the more expensive what-ifs of recent Serie A business.

For Inter, though, the equation is different. They are not paying for a punt; they are paying for a player they believe can grow into the role vacated by Dumfries, while giving Inzaghi cover and competition on both sides.

The negotiations with Tottenham are described as very advanced. The numbers are aligned across multiple reputable outlets. The player wants the move.

If Inter close this, a restless summer on the flanks suddenly looks a lot more stable – and Djed Spence’s Italian chapter, once a short loan spell in Genoa, could be about to return on a far bigger stage.