Djed Spence: A redemption story | OneFootball

In the summer of 2022, there was plenty of excitement when Tottenham Hotspur made the signing of right wing back Djed Spence from Championship side Middlesbrough, after his electric loan spell at Nottingham Forest the season before - helping them to promotion and a win over Arsenal in the FA Cup.

Although it was made clear that he was a club signing, and not an Antonio Conte signing, there was still hope he would get plenty of starts under the Italian, having played in a wing back system for Forest.

By the end of January, he had played 58 minutes across all competitions, and was loaned to Rennes. Safe to say he had not got the game time people had hoped, despite the poor form of Emerson Royal. The loan at Rennes was middling at best, and was an unused sub in all of his last three games in the match day squad - playing just 12 minutes of football after the March international break.

Looking at the turnaround of Djed Spence's Spurs career

Upon his return to Spurs, he played in one pre-season friendly, before being loaned out to Championship side Leeds United. It would be another struggle - finding himself on the bench a fair amount, whilst also suffering a knee ligament injury. When fit, often a 17-year old midfielder was keeping him out of the side at right-back. Someone who goes by the name of... Archie Gray.

For a few games in December, both Gray and Spence were in the starting XI, with Gray at right-back and Spence at left-back. Poor guys thought that must have been as unconventional as it would get for them. They hadn't seen anything yet.

Nevertheless, Spence was recalled from loan in early January and sent to Genoa a week later. He made sixteen appearances, starting eight. At the time, Spurs had an underwhelming enough opinion of Spence to include an £8.5m option to buy. Genoa had an underwhelming enough opinion to not activate that clause after the loan.

So, the now 24-year old was back at the club once again. After an impressive pre-season, which included a goal and assist in a win over Hearts, fans were hoping that he would be part of the first team picture during the season. On the opening weekend against Leicester, he came off the bench for his first Premier League appearance since new year's day 2023.

With Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro the first choice full back duo, Spence had to bide his time, but came off the bench to score the equaliser against Coventry City and help save Spurs from an embarrassing early exit. To people's shock, he was left out of the squad for the league phase of the Europa League.

Despite that, he did sign a new contract at the club shortly after. He would again have to bide his time for starts and regular minutes, but got the opportunity to start away to Southampton in the Premier League in mid-December. Within the first 40 seconds of the game, he had already assisted James Maddison after an excellent carry and dribble.

After that, Spence would get an opportunity to start the next game against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, assisting Dominic Solanke. He then started the next two games against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, picking up a late second yellow in the latter game.

As a result, he missed the draw at home to Wolves, before playing 90 minutes at home to Newcastle United. Having started the game at left-back, Ange then deployed him as a central defender for the second half.

Next up, his best performance of the season (at the time), when Spurs hosted Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi final first leg. During the 90 minutes, up against Mohamed Salah, he put in a rock solid display, being dribbled past 0 times, making two tackles, six clearances, and winning 7/10 of his ground duels. He had some good performances before then, but this was the game where fans were saying "yeah, this guy can be a serious regular for the foreesable future".

After a huge spike in minutes, Spence was given some rest against Tamworth, though did play the entirety of extra-time, as Spurs humiliatingly needed 120 minutes to get past their non league opponents. He would then start the next two Premier League games, before missing the defeat at home to Leicester City with an injury.

However, he would be back for the game against Brentford, which was definitely his best performance in a Spurs shirt. Up against one of the form players in the league, Bryan Mbeumo, he barely let him have a sniff. He was sublime in and out of possession all game.

Defensively, Spence locked Mbeumo up - making four tackles, and winning 7/10 ground duels. He was also excellent in possession, and helped Spurs have more control than they are often used to. Most importantly, he made a crucial goal line clearance to deny Fabio Carvalho after 85 minutes. Sixty seconds later, Pape Sarr made it 2-0 and the points were heading back to North London.

It has been some story. His biggest challenge awaits - playing Salah at Anfield, with a hostile atmosphere. That is not to pour cold water over his performance in the first leg, but we know playing at Anfield is a different beast. The big benefit of having a right footed player at left-back is when Salah cuts inside, Spence is able to defend him on his stronger foot.

No doubt about it, Spurs are going to need him for the rest of the season, in all competitions. The decision to leave him out of the Europa League squad looks even sillier than it did at the time, as Spurs will have to leave out one of him, Antonin Kinsky, Kevin Danso, and Mathys Tel for the knockout stages. Not ideal.