Tottenham Hotspur signed Djed Spence from Middlesbrough

Tottenham have confirmed the signing of Djed Spence from Middlesbrough on a five-year deal in a deal worth up to £20m.

The right-back impressed on loan with Nottingham Forest as they were promoted to the Premier League last season and helped them win promotion via the playoffs. He was named in the EFL Championship team of the season.

Spence, who joined Middlesbrough from Fulham in 2018 and made 70 appearances for the club, is Tottenham’s sixth signing of the summer after Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Clément Lenglet, Fraser Forster and Ivan Perisic.

Spence told Tottenham’s official website: ‘Playing in the Premier League for a big club like Tottenham Hotspur is a dream come true.
‘I’m just thankful to have the opportunity to be here and to play for the club.
‘Everyone wants to play in the Premier League and as a kid you watch it, it was a target of mine. A big club, Champions League football and you’ve got some of the best players that play here so it’s a privilege to be here.
‘I’ll bring excitement, skill, speed, I just want to excite the fans and just play well.‘

The 21-year-old had long been linked with a move to Tottenham after a stunning year on-loan at Nottingham Forest. Antonio Conte, the Spurs manager, identified Spence because he believes he will thrive in his wing-back system, given his speed and desire to drive forward. Spence completed more dribbles than any other Championship defender last season.
Conte wants greater productivity from his wing-backs and he has upgraded on the left side with the free agent signing of Perisic. Conte converted the 33-year-old Croat from a pure winger to a wing-back when he was the manager of Internazionale. Perisic scored 10 goals and contributed nine assists in all competitions for Inter last season.

Spence wrote a message to Forest fans on Tuesday morning in which he tweeted: ‘What a massive club, what a team & what special fans. We came from the bottom & made it all the way to the top. We turned dreams into reality, and I can’t thank you all enough for the special journey we all shared together. Once a Red always a Red.’