Djed Spence
Personal information
Full name Diop Tehuti Djed-Hotep Spence[1]
Date of birth (2000-08-09) 9 August 2000 (age 23)[2]
Place of birth London, England[3]
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[4]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Genoa
(on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Number 90
Youth career
2016–2018 Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2022 Middlesbrough 63 (2)
2021–2022 → Nottingham Forest (loan) 39 (2)
2022– Tottenham Hotspur 4 (0)
2023 → Rennes (loan) 8 (0)
2023–2024 → Leeds United (loan) 7 (0)
2024– → Genoa (loan) 3 (0)
International career‡
2022–2023 England U21 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 06:03, 7 February 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:14, 26 September 2023

Diop Tehuti Djed-Hotep Spence (born 9 August 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Serie A club Genoa, on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Early life

Spence is the younger brother of actress Karla-Simone Spence.[5] He was born in England and is of Jamaican descent.[6]

Club career

Middlesbrough

Spence signed for Middlesbrough on 1 July 2018, having previously been with Fulham's academy.[2][3] He made his debut for Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup on 14 August 2018, appearing as a substitute versus Notts County at the Riverside Stadium.[7] Spence made his league debut for Middlesbrough in a 1–0 win over Charlton Athletic on 7 December 2019, scoring his first league goal in a 1–0 win against Huddersfield Town on 26 December 2019.

On 11 January 2020 Spence won EFL Young Player of the Month, following his league debut, first goal and three clean sheets.[8]

Nottingham Forest (loan)

On 1 September 2021, it was announced Spence would join Nottingham Forest on loan for the remainder of the season.[9] He scored his first goal for Forest in a 3–0 win over Birmingham City on 2 October.[10] Spence impressed in FA Cup victories over Premier League clubs Arsenal and Leicester City, scoring the fourth in a 4–1 victory over the latter.[11]

Spence was awarded the EFL Championship Player of the Month award for March 2022[12] as well as being nominated for the Goal of the Month award following his long range strike against Queens Park Rangers[13] which he was ultimately awarded.[14] Having also been nominated for the Championship Young Player of the Season, Spence made it a hat-trick of awards for March 2022 when he won the EFL Young Player of the Month award for the second time in his career.[15]

Spence played a vital role in Nottingham Forest's promotion winning side, and was featured in both the EFL Championship Team of the Season and the PFA Championship team of the season.[16][17]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 19 July 2022, Tottenham Hotspur announced the signing of Spence on a five-year deal, for a reported fee of £20 million.[18][19] He made his Tottenham debut on 29 August, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 win against Nottingham Forest.[20]

Loan to Rennes

On 31 January 2023, Spence joined Ligue 1 side Rennes on a loan until the end of the season.[21]

Loan to Leeds United

On 30 August 2023, EFL Championship club Leeds United announced the signing of Spence on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur.[22] He made his debut for the club in an EFL Championship fixture against Sheffield Wednesday, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 draw.

On 18 September 2023 Leeds United announced that Spence had suffered an injury in training that would see him out of action for eight weeks.[23] On 4 January 2024, Leeds terminated the loan after only playing seven games before January and Spence returned to Tottenham Hotspur.[24]

Loan to Genoa

On 11 January 2024, Spence signed for Serie A club Genoa on a loan deal until the end of the season.[25]

International career

In March 2022, Spence earned a first international call up to the England Under-21 squad for the upcoming Under-21 European Championship Qualifying matches against Andorra and Albania.[26] He made his debut as a substitute during a 3–0 victory away to the latter on 29 March 2022.[27]

Style of play

Spence primarily plays as a right-back, and is known for his pace and dribbling ability.[28] He has been praised by Ian Wright, who described him as "combative, technical, swashbuckling", and Wes Morgan, who compared him to a Rolls-Royce.[29][30]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fulham U23 2017–18[31] — — — — 1[c] 0 1 0
Middlesbrough 2018–19[32] Championship 0 0 0 0 2 0 — — 2 0
2019–20[33] Championship 22 1 2 0 0 0 — — 24 1
2020–21[34] Championship 38 1 1 0 1 0 — — 40 1
2021–22[35] Championship 3 0 0 0 1 0 — — 4 0
Total 63 2 3 0 4 0 — — 70 2
Middlesbrough U23 2018–19[32] — — — — 3[c] 0 3 0
Nottingham Forest (loan) 2021–22[35] Championship 39 2 4 1 0 0 — 3[d] 0 46 3
Tottenham Hotspur 2022–23[36] Premier League 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 — 6 0
2023–24[37] Premier League 0 0 — 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 — 6 0
Rennes (loan) 2022–23[36] Ligue 1 8 0 — — 2[e] 0 — 10 0
Leeds United (loan) 2023–24[37] Championship 7 0 0 0 — — — 7 0
Genoa (loan) 2023–24[37] Serie A 0 0 — — — — 0 0
Career total 121 4 8 1 5 0 2 0 7 0 144 5
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ Appearances in EFL Championship play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Nottingham Forest

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Djed Spence". mfc.co.uk. Middlesbrough F.C. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b "11v11". 11v11.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Djed Spence" (in French). Stade Rennais F.C. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  5. ^ Karla-Simone Spence (26 December 2019). "Proud Big sister🦁❤️ The future is bright! SPENCE WOI YOii!!! #winninggoal #borofc". Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021 – via Instagram.
  6. ^ Vora, Hershil (2 May 2020). "Exclusive: Stephen Odubola And Karla-Simone Spence Talks "Blue Story"". The Knockturnal.
  7. ^ "Middlesbrough 3–3 Notts County". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Djed Spence: Middlesbrough defender wins December's EFL Young Player of the Month award". 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  9. ^ Club, Nottingham Forest Football. "Djed Spence signs on loan". Nottingham Forest Football Club.
  10. ^ "Birmingham 0–3 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Nottingham Forest 4–1 Leicester City: Forest defeat FA Cup holders Leicester". BBC Sport. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Spence named Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk. 8 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Spence nominated for Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk. 8 April 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Goal of the Month: March winners". www.efl.com. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Djed Spence scoops Young Player of the Month award". www.efl.com. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced". www.efl.com. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  17. ^ "PFA Championship Team of the Year". www.thepfa.com. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Spence signs from Middlesbrough". Tottenham Hotspur. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  19. ^ David Hytner (19 July 2022). "Tottenham seal Djed Spence signing from Middlesbrough in £20m deal". www.theguardian.com.
  20. ^ "Nottingham Forest 0-2 Tottenham: Harry Kane scores 200th and 201st career league goals in hard-fought win". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 September 2022.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Djed Spence, nouveau Latéral droit Rennais!". Stade Rennais F.C. (in French). 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Leeds United sign Djed Spence on loan from Tottenham Hotspur". Leeds United F.C. 30 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Djed Spence Injury Update". Leeds United F.C. 27 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Djed Spence returns to Tottenham Hotspur". www.leedsunited.com. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Djes Spence nuovo giocatore del Genoa" [Djed Spence is a new Genoa player] (in Italian). Genoa CFC. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  26. ^ "England MU21 squad for qualifiers with Andorra and Albania". www.englandfootball.com. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Report: Albania 0-3 England MU21s". EnglandFootball.com. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  28. ^ Carey, Liam Tharme and Mark. "What Tottenham can expect from Djed Spence: Crosses, beating a man, but lots to learn". The Athletic. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  29. ^ McGovern, Ste (14 January 2022). "Ian Wright pays Djed Spence huge compliment after Arsenal display". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  30. ^ Johns, Craig (7 February 2022). "Scouting mission, pundit praise & ex-boss valuation - Spence impresses". TeessideLive. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  31. ^ "Games played by Djed Spence in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  32. ^ a b "Games played by Djed Spence in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  33. ^ "Games played by Djed Spence in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  34. ^ "Games played by Djed Spence in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  35. ^ a b "Games played by Djed Spence in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Djed Spence in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  37. ^ a b c "Games played by Djed Spence in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Forest return to Premier League after 23-year wait". BBC Sport. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  39. ^ "Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced". www.efl.com. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  40. ^ "PFA Championship Team of the Year". Professional Footballers' Association. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.

External links

Genoa CFC – current squad
Awards
Categories