Djed Spence Completes Move to Inter Milan for €30 Million

Djed Spence has drawn a firm line under his Tottenham Hotspur story and stepped into a new one in Italy, completing a move to Inter Milan in a deal worth around €30 million.

The England defender has signed a five-year contract with the Serie A giants, who have identified the 26-year-old as their answer to replacing Denzel Dumfries after the Dutchman’s summer switch to Real Madrid.

From “special chapter” to fresh start

Spence leaves north London with his reputation significantly enhanced. He played 85 times for Spurs, his standout memory the club’s Europa League triumph – and, in particular, that famous night in Bilbao which he referenced in a heartfelt farewell.

“A special chapter comes to an end,” he wrote on social media, calling his Spurs spell “some journey” and thanking staff, team-mates “who’ve become family” and the supporters, before signing off with a promise that Tottenham will always hold a place in his heart.

The emotion was genuine. The decision, though, was ruthless.

Roberto De Zerbi, preparing for his first full campaign in charge, did not see Spence as central to his plans. The head coach underlined that stance publicly last month when he described Pedro Porro as the “best in the world” in the right-back role. Inside the club, the message was clear: if the right offer arrived, Spurs would listen.

The World Cup made sure it did.

World Cup springboard

Spence went to the 2026 World Cup as a surprise inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. He came back as a mainstay.

He featured in all eight of England’s matches, starting the semifinal defeat to Argentina and the third-place playoff win over France. His performances on the biggest stage pushed his value up sharply, and Tottenham moved quickly to capitalise.

Those England minutes also carried a domestic consequence. Spurs had signed Spence from Middlesbrough in July 2022 in a £19 million deal loaded with add-ons linked to international milestones. His senior England debut in September 2025, sources suggest, triggered a £1m payment back to Boro.

For Spurs, the World Cup was both a showcase and a selling point. For Inter, it was confirmation that they were buying a defender ready for the highest level.

Inter’s new right flank, Spurs’ reshaped defence

Spence now heads back to a country he already knows. He spent six months on loan at Genoa in 2024, a brief first taste of Italian football that now looks like a prelude rather than a footnote.

At San Siro, he will be tasked with filling the void left by Dumfries on Inter’s right side, stepping into a system that demands energy, aggression and precision from its wing-backs. His World Cup form suggests he can handle that responsibility. The length of his contract underlines Inter’s belief that he will.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are reshaping their back line on both flanks and down the spine.

Spence’s exit came just hours after the club confirmed that captain Cristian Romero had completed his move to Atlético Madrid, stripping De Zerbi of his most imposing centre-back and a key dressing-room voice in one swoop.

On the opposite side of the defence, Spurs have already moved to bring in experience. Andy Robertson has arrived on a free transfer after leaving Liverpool and is expected to play a major role at left-back. His battle with Destiny Udogie for that spot will hinge on the younger defender’s ability to prove his fitness after a difficult preseason.

The message from the recruitment team is unmistakable: nothing is static. Not even for World Cup standouts or club captains.

End of an era, start of a test

Spurs once viewed Spence as a long-term project, investing in his potential when they prised him from Middlesbrough four summers ago. They leave the relationship with a European trophy, a full England international, and a significant profit after his value surged.

Inter gain a defender entering his prime, hardened by Premier League scrutiny and World Cup pressure.

Spence leaves with affection for Tottenham, but his next chapter will be measured not in sentiment, but in performances on the right flank at San Siro. With Dumfries gone and Inter’s ambitions unchanged, there will be nowhere to hide.