Tottenham nearly let their most in-form player go for just £8.5m
Last summer, Tottenham Hotspur were on the cusp of losing a player who has now become pivotal to the current success of the team – and they only would have claimed £8.5m for him.
A tough start at Tottenham Hotspur for Djed Spence
Spence’s time at Spurs has taken a big turn in the last three months. A player who was once an outcast has now become almost undroppable for Ange Postecoglou this season.
The full-back joined Spurs back in the summer of 2022 after signing from Middlesbrough. His spell in the championship was impressive as he claimed numerous accolades.
| Accolade | Season |
|---|---|
| EFL Championship Player of the Month (March) | 2021/22 |
| EFL Championship Goal of the Month (March) | 2021/22 |
| EFL Young Player of the Month (March) | 2021/22 |
| EFL Championship Team of the Season | 2021/22 |
| PFA Championship Team of the Year | 2021/22 |
However, after signing for the Lilywhites, the full-back made six appearances for the N17 club across all competitions in the first half of the 2022/23 season, he then moved to French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais on loan in January 2023 for the rest of the campaign.
In August 2023, he secured another loan move, this time to Leeds United, where he featured in seven matches before returning to Hotspur Way in January 2024. Later that month, he joined Genoa on loan for the remainder of the season.
How Tottenham nearly let Djed Spence go for £8.5m
The loan move to Genoa made it clear what those at Tottenham thought about the full-back, as a rather low buy option clause of £8.5 million was included in the loan deal.
After impressing in Italy where he managed to feature sixteen times for La Superba, the Italian outfit was interested in making the move permanent. However, they were put off by the buy option clause of £8.5 million because they deemed it too expensive.
This meant that a deal was not reached and Djed Spence remained at Tottenham Hotspur. Fast forward six months into the 24/25 season, a player once viewed as a surplus to requirement, is now one of the best players at Tottenham Hotspur.
Spence’s stats for Spurs this season
It was not until December 15 2024, over a year after signing for Spurs, that the full-back made his Premier League debut.
His debut came in the clash against Southampton where Spurs secured a comfortable 5-0 win. The 24-year-old kept a clean sheet and picked up an assist.
He has not looked back since and has now become a vital cog of Ange Postecoglou’s eleven in the absence of Destiny Udogie.
When compared to full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, the UCL and UEL, Djed Spence ranks highly. He is in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons, 99th percentile for blocks, 83rd percentile for aerials won and 83rd percentile for pass completion. Here is a breakdown of his underlying numbers:
| Stat | Per 90 | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Completion | 84.5% | 83rd |
| Progressive Passes | 4.10 | 65th |
| Progressive Carries | 2.56 | 79th |
| Successful Take-ons | 1.92 | 98th |
| Tackles | 2.63 | 83rd |
| Blocks | 1.99 | 99th |
| Clearances | 3.08 | 79th |
| Aerials Won | 1.35 | 83rd |
So far this season, Spence has shown us that the lows in football can be very low. However, it is important to put your head down and keep working and when your chance comes, be ready to take it.
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