Djed Spence: Tottenham, England & World Cup Record

Djed Spence is a Tottenham Hotspur and England full-back who can play on either side of defence. His career is unusual for a current international: he left Fulham’s academy, developed in the Championship with Middlesbrough, drove Nottingham Forest’s promotion, endured three loan spells after joining Spurs, then fought his way into Tottenham’s team and England’s 2026 World Cup side.

Spence finished the 2026 World Cup with a bronze medal after appearing in all eight of England’s matches. England Football’s post-tournament record lists 14 senior caps and no goals, including eight World Cup appearances. Those current figures replace the four-cap pre-tournament record previously shown on this page.

Djed Spence’s current club and contract

Spence plays for Tottenham Hotspur and wears number 24. Spurs signed him from Middlesbrough on 19 July 2022. After a difficult first two seasons and several loans, he established himself during 2024/25 and signed a new long-term contract in August 2025.

Tottenham did not publish an end date in the August 2025 announcement. It superseded the contract through 2028 that the club had announced in October 2024, so this profile does not attach an unconfirmed expiry year to the newer deal. The dependable current description is a long-term Spurs contract signed in August 2025.

Quick profile

London development and the move to Middlesbrough

Spence’s grassroots club was Junior Elite FC, and he spent part of his youth career with Fulham. The decisive development move came in July 2018, when the 17-year-old left London for Middlesbrough. He initially joined Boro’s under-23 group rather than arriving as a ready-made first-team player.

His professional league debut came against Charlton Athletic in December 2019. Nineteen days later he scored his first senior goal against Huddersfield Town. The EFL named him Young Player of the Month soon afterwards, recognition of a breakthrough built on pace, direct running and the willingness to attack from wing-back.

England Football credits Spence with more than 60 Middlesbrough appearances. That Championship base was important: it gave him sustained senior minutes before the promotion season that turned him into a nationally recognised prospect.

Nottingham Forest promotion season

Spence joined Nottingham Forest on loan for 2021/22 and played 46 times, scoring three goals. Forest recovered from a poor start, reached the Championship play-offs and beat Huddersfield at Wembley to return to the Premier League. Spence’s repeated carries from right wing-back became a central feature of the team’s attack.

His season also produced individual recognition. In March 2022 he won the Championship Player of the Month, Championship Goal of the Month and EFL Young Player of the Month awards. At the end of the campaign, he was selected in both the EFL Championship Team of the Season and the PFA Championship Team of the Year.

The value of that loan was practical rather than promotional: Forest earned promotion and Spence proved he could sustain an attacking full-back role across a long Championship season. Tottenham signed him from Middlesbrough that summer.

Why Spence needed three loan spells after joining Spurs

Spence’s Tottenham breakthrough did not happen immediately. He made six appearances in all competitions during the first half of 2022/23, mostly without an extended run. In January 2023, Spurs sent him to Stade Rennais for the remainder of the season.

A Leeds United loan followed in August 2023. He made seven appearances before returning to Tottenham in January 2024, then spent the second half of that season with Genoa in Serie A. Those moves exposed him to French, Championship and Italian football but also showed that his Spurs place was uncertain.

The eventual turnaround gives his profile more value than a simple transfer list. Spence returned from Genoa, stayed in Tottenham’s squad and earned opportunities during 2024/25. Instead of another permanent move, he converted those chances into a first-team role.

Tottenham breakthrough and first goals

Spence began 2024/25 with only six Tottenham appearances to his name. By the end of the campaign, the club’s official biography recorded 41 appearances in all competitions. His first Spurs goal was a late equaliser against Coventry City in the League Cup, helping Tottenham recover to win the tie.

He made his full Premier League debut in a 5-0 win at Southampton in December 2024. In February 2025, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 4-1 victory at Ipswich Town and earned a nomination for the league’s Player of the Month award.

Tottenham finished the season by winning the UEFA Europa League against Manchester United. Spence came off the bench in the final, making him part of the club’s first major trophy success since 2008. Spurs announced that he had reached 42 appearances when he signed his new long-term deal in August 2025.

Verified career milestones

England debut and a historic first

Spence played for England’s under-21 team before Thomas Tuchel gave him a first senior call-up in August 2025. He made his debut as a substitute in a 5-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Serbia on 9 September. Goals from players including Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford completed the win.

England Football records two historical details from that night: Spence became the 120th Black player to represent the senior men’s team and the first Muslim player capped at that level. Those are federation-recorded milestones, not labels inferred from social media or private information.

He made his first senior start against Wales in October 2025, playing left-back for 90 minutes. A full match against Latvia then became his third cap and helped England qualify for the 2026 World Cup. By the time the final squad was announced, he had four senior appearances.

Djed Spence at the 2026 World Cup

Spence’s first senior tournament became a much larger role than his pre-World Cup cap total suggested. He appeared in every one of England’s eight games, contributing on both sides of defence as the team moved from Group L to the bronze-medal match.

Tottenham reported that Spence featured in every England game at the tournament. England Football’s post-tournament squad figures confirm the total of eight World Cup appearances.

Semi-final recovery run against Argentina

Spence played 95 minutes in England’s 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina. With England leading, he sprinted back to stop Giuliano Simeone after the attacker appeared through one-on-one. Tottenham’s report singled out the recovery as an important defensive action before Argentina’s late comeback.

Bronze-medal contribution against France

England beat France 6-4 in the third-place play-off. Spence played the full match at left-back and won the late penalty that Bukayo Saka converted for 5-3. The victory gave England its best World Cup finish since 1966 and left Spence with 14 senior caps, eight tournament appearances and a bronze medal.

How Djed Spence plays

Spence is a right-footed full-back whose most obvious weapon is acceleration. He can start deep, carry the ball beyond the first presser and turn a defensive possession into an attack without requiring an immediate pass. His direct running is particularly effective when a winger moves inside and leaves the touchline open.

Tottenham describe him as a defender who relishes one-to-one battles. Recovery pace lets him correct space behind the defensive line, while his frame helps in shoulder-to-shoulder contests. He is not limited to right-back: both Spurs and England have trusted him on the left, where he can defend a winger before driving inside or outside with the ball.

The 2026 World Cup demonstrated that versatility under tournament pressure. Spence started on both flanks, entered games as a substitute and remained involved from the group stage through the third-place play-off. That record is stronger evidence of tactical usefulness than describing him generically as only a left-back.

Honours and individual recognition

Salary and net worth: what is verified?

Tottenham announced a new long-term contract in August 2025 but did not publish Spence’s salary. His assets, liabilities, investments and endorsement arrangements are private and not available in audited public statements. This profile therefore excludes weekly-wage and net-worth guesses.

Third-party databases may publish estimates, but those figures are not equivalent to a club payroll disclosure. The confirmed financial-status information is limited to his current Tottenham employment and the new long-term deal.

Frequently asked questions

Which club does Djed Spence play for?

He plays for Tottenham Hotspur and wears number 24. He signed a new long-term Spurs contract in August 2025.

Can Spence play left-back and right-back?

Yes. He is right-footed but regularly plays on either side of defence. England used him at both full-back positions during the 2026 World Cup.

How many England caps does Djed Spence have?

He has 14 senior caps and no goals after the 2026 World Cup. Eight of those appearances came at the tournament.

What did Spence win with Tottenham?

He was part of Tottenham’s 2024/25 UEFA Europa League-winning squad and came off the bench in the final against Manchester United.

Was Djed Spence the first Muslim to play for England?

England Football records him as the first Muslim player capped by its senior men’s team. The milestone came on his debut against Serbia in September 2025.

Sources and update standard

• Tottenham Hotspur: Djed Spence official biography
• Tottenham Hotspur: August 2025 long-term contract
• Tottenham Hotspur: England v Argentina semi-final
• Tottenham Hotspur: World Cup bronze-medal match
• England Football: post-tournament caps and World Cup record
• England Football: player pathway and historical debut milestones
• EFL: 2022 Championship Team of the Season

Last reviewed: 26 July 2026. Club status, contract description and international totals should change only when Tottenham Hotspur, England Football or the relevant competition publishes a confirmed update.