After stalling at Spurs, can Spence get his career back on track?

Djed Spence joined Tottenham Hotspur in July 2022 as one of the most promising young defenders in English football. Eighteen months later, the 23-year-old is fighting to save his career at the highest level.

Spurs fought off competition from a number of clubs to sign Spence in a deal worth up to £19 million after the right-back excelled at Nottingham Forest on loan from parent club Middlesbrough. Forest achieved promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years and Spence was voted into the EFL and PFA team of the season for all 39 of his league matches, as well as a starring role when Steve Cooper's team dumped Arsenal and Leicester City. and Huddersfield Town out of the FA Cup before narrowly losing to Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

By signing Spence – quick, direct and determined in the final third – Spurs appeared to have recruited a dynamic full-back perfectly suited to the demands of the modern game. Yet Spence made just six substitute appearances, totaling 43 minutes, before being loaned out, first to Rennes and then to Leeds United. This latter period was abruptly interrupted this month, leaving him in the wilderness.

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Sources told ESPN that Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou had sent Spence to train with the under-21s and that the club were prepared to listen to permanent offers to cut their losses on a player who now needs to prove that it can still realize its considerable potential.

Spence's former manager at Middlesbrough, Neil Warnock, once said that Spence was destined to “Premier League or non-league” amid concerns over his hunger to reach the top. Last week, Spence joined Genoa on another short-term loan deal in what represents a crossroads in his career.

How did we get here ? Can he put his once-promising career back on an upward trajectory?

Well done Djed, I said you were in the Premier League or non-League, glad you listened and followed my advice, now go enjoy your success

These cigars won't do you any good, son 😉 https://t.co/EANP8g4ri9

– Neil Warnock (@warnockofficial) May 30, 2022

Sources have told ESPN that part of the deal that brought Spence to Tottenham included a potential £2.5million in add-ons linked to future involvement with the England national team. Spence had made his England Under-21 debut in March 2022 – as a substitute in a 3-0 win over Albania – to continue the spectacular upward trajectory which has sparked the interest of many clubs in across Europe.

Borussia Dortmund, AS Roma, Brentford, West Ham United and Forest were among a number of clubs interested in Spence, who was given an extra week's holiday in the summer of 2022 as Middlesbrough negotiated for the best possible prices. Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Chelsea were also in contact with his representatives, although they remained on the back foot as teams began to make offers.

Sources have told ESPN that Spurs head coach Antonio Conte spoke directly to Spence during negotiations in a bid to convince him to join Tottenham. It was a point that would later lead to frustration in the player's camp when the Italian pointedly – ​​and repeatedly – ​​referred to Spence as a “club signing”.

This is perhaps a sign of wider confusion at the top of the club at the time. While Conte wanted to bring in experienced professionals who could help immediately – the signing of veteran Ivan Perisic earlier in this window is a prime example – Spurs wanted to continue their long-standing policy of bringing in younger players with potential and develop them in north London. Spence has been caught in the crossfire to some extent in this power battle, but regardless, it's not uncommon for Tottenham to tell potential new signings that they need to fight their way into the team .

Spurs were seen as a good fit for Spence given their ability to give young players a chance and his path to the first team seemed well-marked given the question marks over the quality of the club's other two right-backs: Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty. Yet Conte quickly decided that Spence was not ready for first-team football and with each passing week he was left out of the matchday squad altogether, the 'club signing' comment seemed more more pointed.

Sources told ESPN that Conte did not provide much specific instruction to Spence on how he could improve or what he needed to do to make the team. Perhaps that's part of the reason he prefers to work with senior players: they often know it instinctively.

Spence needed advice and didn't get it. Yet multiple sources on the training ground suggested to ESPN that he didn't react in the best way. Questions began to arise about his attitude and activities off the field. On several occasions, he was either late for practice or arrived at a session with barely a few minutes to spare. Some questioned his work ethic and by the time January 2023 rolled around, Spence had not started a single game, making just six substitute appearances. In four of those matches he was introduced in the 88th or 89th minute.

Sources told ESPN that Spence lived next door to Gretar Steinsson, who started work as Tottenham's performance director the same month the defender signed for Spurs. Steinsson became aware of loud music regularly coming from Spence's house late at night and sources told ESPN that internally the club was becoming concerned about his attitude and commitment to getting the most out of of her career.

The idea formed that Spence should go out on loan to get back on track. Around a fortnight into the January window, Ligue 1 club Rennes made an offer to take Spence. Sources told ESPN that Spence rejected the move. As the month progressed it became increasingly clear that the club were targeting another right-back and on deadline day Spurs agreed a deal worth €45 million for signing Pedro Porro on loan from Sporting Lisbon with the obligation to make the deal permanent.

Suddenly, Spence's short- and long-term future at Spurs seemed uncertain. The same day Porro's arrival was confirmed, Spence traveled to Rennes. Sources told ESPN that Atletico Madrid had expressed interest, but Spence believed he had a better chance of playing regularly in France.

Spence started well in France. Rennes fans gave him a standing ovation at the end of his 84-minute debut in their 3-1 defeat to Lille. He played in the club's two Europa League exit matches against Shakhtar Donetsk, but performances slumped and by April he was missing from the team – a source told ESPN he had a disagreement with the manager Bruno Genesio. Spence's loan was cut short in early May due to injury.

Back at Spurs, Conte had been sacked and after a disappointing end to the season under two caretaker coaches – Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason – Ange Postecoglou was named the club's new head coach. Sources told ESPN that Postecoglou was keen to give everyone on the team a clean slate and urged them to buy into his philosophy. However, sources added that from their first meeting, Postecoglou had doubts about Spence. He reportedly reacted badly to Postecoglou's subsequent suggestion of another loan. Postecoglou's response was to insist he would not be part of his team. The former Celtic boss has repeatedly spoken publicly about prioritizing the right types of characters and he felt Spence was not the right fit for his group.

Conversely, the case of Pape Matar Sarr was used internally as an example of the transformation that others could have followed. Sarr was left out by Conte, having started just two Premier League matches in the 2022-23 campaign following his arrival from Metz. Under Postecoglou, Sarr formed a key midfield partnership with Yves Bissouma, starting 16 of 20 league matches before joining Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations. Earlier this month, the 21-year-old signed a new long-term contract tying him to Spurs until 2030. Sources told ESPN that Sarr handled his exile well, remaining focused and diligent throughout. .

But Tottenham were prepared to listen to offers this summer from Spence, who changed agents last year but wanted to recoup the majority of the initial £12.5 million fee paid to Middlesbrough. However, suitors were rarer this time and a loan move to Leeds arrived late in the window, with sources suggesting he was initially reluctant to return to the Championship.

A knee injury prevented him from making a single appearance between September and December. Spence would make seven appearances for Leeds. Sources said that while he was polite on the training ground, there were once again timing issues and a failure to adhere to the club's requirements off the field. A disagreement with Leeds boss Daniel Farke followed over his role in the team. Farke wanted Spence to cover at left back. The player disagreed and shortly afterwards Leeds activated a termination clause in their loan deal and Spence was sent back to Tottenham. The Spurs were taken by surprise. Postecoglou banned Spence to train with the under-21s and Tottenham tried to find him another club.

Sources with knowledge of Tottenham's January transfer plans suggest Spurs were now prepared to approve a cut-price sale, but instead suggested Spence to Genoa during conversations about signing centre-back Radu Drăgușin from the Italian club. The negotiations concluded with Spurs paying around €30 million for Drăgușin, with Spence going the other way on loan. ESPN reported at the time that the deal included an option to sign Spence permanently for €10 million.

Additionally, sources have told ESPN that Tottenham have agreed to waive the loan fee and are paying Spence's full salary, worth around £60,000 per week. Once again, Spence was initially reluctant to join Genoa, but later accepted the decision and has another opportunity to reignite the career of a player with raw and exciting talent.

Some in the game wonder how many more chances he will get.