Now an important part of the squad and having started against Ghana, he is in contention for a place in the Three Lions' side for their round of 32 clash with DR Congo.
You had to rub your eyes to be sure: yes, the Djed Spence who is becoming increasingly important for England is indeed the same one who just recently endured several average to underwhelming loan spells. In 2023, he featured just 10 times for Ligue 1 club Rennes.
Loaned out again to Leeds, where he played seven Championship matches, then to Genoa, where he featured in 16 Serie A games but started only eight, Spence still failed to convince. In 2024, he returned to Tottenham, who had signed him two years earlier from Middlesbrough.
And in the midst of the Spurs’ struggles two seasons ago - finishing 17th, just above the relegation zone - he managed to carve out a place for himself from mid-December onwards.
Having never started a match for them before and with just 64 minutes of game time, he took advantage of the festive period and an injury to Destiny Udogie to break into the team.
Suddenly, everything clicked: Spence played 25 Premier League matches, starting 19 of them.
Named man of the match against Brentford and Manchester United in February, he established himself in the starting side.
Qualifying for the Champions League thanks to victory in the Europa League gave him the chance to experience Europe’s top competition.
And with a shortage of options in his position, he was called up by the Three Lions and Thomas Tuchel in September 2025.
Christmas Breakthrough
Although his breakthrough came relatively late, at 23, Spence had an explanation. In an interview with Rio Ferdinand in March 2025, he described his journey.
"I’d just come from Forest (he had been loaned out by Middlesbrough and helped Nottingham win promotion to the top flight, ed.), I was going to the Premier League, to a top 6 club, and I thought: 'This is huge!' I was a bit too modest.
"I saw great players like Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and I didn’t want to overshadow them. That was probably my biggest mistake: not expressing myself as I should have."
Spence had a tough time with then-manager Antonio Conte, who isn’t exactly known for his diplomacy or composure in all situations.
"Honestly, it wasn’t pleasant. I arrived at the club full of confidence; I was buzzing; I’d had a great season. I’d just been promoted to the Premier League with my club. When I arrived, I hit a wall. It shook my confidence a bit."
Things went much better with Ange Postecoglou, and that changed his whole career: "He did everything right in training, his attitude was exemplary," said the Australian when asked about Spence.
"He’s a good footballer; I think our style of play suits him and he’s really bought into it. He earned his place in the squad. The rest is up to him, because for me it’s obvious to pick him when I see that."
A strong personality
The first Muslim to wear the Three Lions shirt, Spence was surprised but honoured after featuring in a 5-0 win over Serbia.
"I was surprised because I didn’t know I was the first, so it’s truly a blessing," he said.
"It’s amazing to make history and, I hope, to inspire young people around the world to realise what they can achieve too. They can do what I did. No matter your religion, believe in God."
World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 48 national teams and will be played in 16 modern stadiums.
Match schedule and times | Knockout draw | Final group standings | England at the World Cup | Team rosters at the World Cup | How to watch the World Cup | Predictions and odds | Team of the Group Stage
Passionate about fashion like Jules Kounde, and unafraid to refuse to shake hands with Thomas Partey, Spence admitted he tries not to dwell too much on certain negative comments, even if they can motivate him to "improve every day and become a better person. I want to be the best."
In a season with 40 matches (30 in the league, 10 in the Champions League, including 31 starts), Spence wasn’t affected by his club’s struggles, as Spurs conce again narrowly avoided relegation.
With only four caps to his name, he joined the squad and added two more in friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica (72 minutes in total).
During the group stage, he has had consistent game time and started against Ghana on matchday two.
That makes him a serious contender for a place in the starting XI ahead of Nico O'Reilly, or even in his initial right-back role, with England struggling significantly with injuries in that position.
Watch the World Cup 2026 live on ITVX via Prime Video here - live coverage, highlights, and analysis.
