Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan have reached an agreement over the transfer of Djed Spence for a total package of £30m, according to Sky Sports. The 26-year-old right-back made his England debut less than a year ago and featured in England’s World Cup semi-final run. He is now set to leave north London after four years defined more by loan spells than genuine opportunity.
Fabrizio Romano reported on August 11, 2026, that Inter had prepared their first offer and that Spence had already approved the move. The Athletic, citing a source granted anonymity, confirmed Spence is keen on joining the reigning Serie A champions. Jay Harris and Jack Pitt-Brooke broke the story for that outlet on the same date.
The deal itself
Spurs signed Spence from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth up to £20m. The reported £30m total package would represent a modest profit on a player who spent much of his time at the club out on loan. Various outlets have also quoted the fee at approximately €30m, with The Athletic noting a figure in that region.
Spence signed a new long-term contract with Tottenham as recently as August 2025, which gave Spurs leverage in negotiations. That extension now looks like it served mainly to protect the club’s asset value rather than signal any long-term future for the player in north London.
Why the move makes sense for Spence
Inter Milan need a right-back. Denzel Dumfries departed for Real Madrid, leaving a clear gap on that side of their defense. Spence fills it directly, and the move places him at a club competing at the highest level of European football, something Spurs cannot currently offer. Tottenham are without European competition next season, a fact that almost certainly accelerated his decision.
At Spurs, head coach Roberto De Zerbi has Pedro Porro as his established first-choice right-back, with Archie Gray available as cover. On the left, Destiny Udogie, Andy Robertson (signed on a free transfer from Liverpool earlier this summer), and 20-year-old Brazilian prospect Souza are all competing for time. The pathway to regular first-team football at Spurs was narrow. Inter offers him a starting role at a club that just won the league.
A winding road to this point
Spence’s Tottenham career got off to a difficult start. Then-head coach Antonio Conte publicly labeled him a ‘club signing’ rather than his own choice, and Spence was quickly farmed out on loan, spending time at Rennes, Leeds United, and Genoa across roughly 18 months. A loan at Nottingham Forest before his Spurs move had helped earn them promotion to the Premier League, yet none of that translated into a genuine chance at his parent club for years.
The turnaround came under Ange Postecoglou, who handed Spence his first Spurs start. He subsequently worked under Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor, and De Zerbi as the club cycled through managers. On the international stage, Spence made his England debut in September 2025 and went on to feature in England’s World Cup campaign, contributing a notable sliding tackle on Giuliano Simeone in the semi-final before England lost to Argentina.
What it means for Tottenham
Selling Spence clears wages, generates a fee above their original outlay, and resolves a squad position where De Zerbi already has his preferred options. Everton had been credited with interest in Spence earlier in the summer, per The Athletic, but Inter’s appeal and the fee on offer made Spurs’ decision straightforward.
For a club rebuilding without European football, moving on a player unlikely to feature heavily keeps the squad lean and raises funds that can be redirected elsewhere. Archie Gray remains available to cover at right-back if Porro faces injury or suspension.
FAQ
How much is Djed Spence’s transfer fee to Inter Milan?
Sky Sports reported that Tottenham and Inter Milan agreed a total package worth £30m. The Athletic placed the fee at approximately €30m.
How old is Djed Spence and what position does he play?
Djed Spence is 26 years old and plays as a right-back or left-back.
Why is Inter Milan signing a new right-back?
Inter Milan needed to replace Denzel Dumfries, who left the club for Real Madrid, creating a vacancy at right-back.