Djed Spence Joins Inter Milan as Dumfries' Replacement
Djed Spence is officially an Inter Milan player, and with that signature the Italian champions have chosen their heir to Denzel Dumfries on the right flank.
The English full-back arrives from Tottenham on a deal worth around €35 million, add-ons included, and has signed a long-term contract running until 2031. It is a huge commitment from Inter, and a clear signal: they see Spence as a pillar of their next cycle, not just a stopgap.
From Genoa to the champions of Italy
Spence does not walk into Serie A blind. In 2024 he spent six months on loan at Genoa, a short spell that gave him a first taste of Italian football’s tactical demands. That experience now looks crucial. He already knows the tempo, the defensive discipline, the positional detail required. Inter are betting that those six months will shorten his learning curve in a system that asks a lot from its wing-backs.
What truly pushed him onto the radar of Europe’s elite, though, came on the biggest stage. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Spence featured in all eight of England’s matches, starting four of them, as the team battled their way to a third-place finish. Across that run he showed exactly what top clubs crave: the stamina to patrol an entire flank, the versatility to cover different defensive roles, and the courage to keep driving forward in high-pressure games. Inter were watching.
Now he steps into a dressing room that has just conquered Italy, with a very specific mission: replace Dumfries.
Filling a big Dutch void
Dumfries was never just a right-back for Inter. He brought power. He brought width. He repeatedly attacked the penalty area from deep, arriving like a second striker at the back post. Losing that profile to Real Madrid leaves a sizeable hole in Simone Inzaghi’s armoury.
Spence is not a carbon copy, but he offers weapons of his own.
The 26-year-old is a very physical full-back, explosive when he sees open grass in front of him and dangerous when allowed to carry the ball at speed. He can operate on either flank and, when his team has possession, he can almost function as an out-and-out winger. That flexibility will appeal to a coach who constantly tweaks his wide roles depending on the opponent.
His pace stands out. In transition, it can change games. Defensively, he can recover ground quickly when Inter lose the ball, shutting down counters before they develop. Going forward, the same speed lets him attack the space behind opposing defenders, stretching back lines and creating room inside for Inter’s forwards and midfielders.
What he cannot replicate overnight is Dumfries’ knack for arriving in the box and contributing goals. That is the hardest part of the Dutchman’s game to replace, and the one that will demand the biggest evolution from Spence if he is to fully inherit that role.
Leaving Spurs, chasing consistency
Spence’s farewell to Tottenham came via social media, where he thanked the club, his teammates, the staff and the supporters. His time in North London never quite settled into a consistent rhythm, but it did bring one major high: winning the Europa League in Bilbao, a landmark moment in his career.
Those years at Spurs still matter. Premier League minutes, the scrutiny, the intensity of the schedule – all of that forms part of the package Inter are buying. Combined with his Serie A experience at Genoa and his standout World Cup with England, Spence arrives in Milan with a far stronger résumé than when he first left English football for Italy.
Now the stage is bigger. The expectations are higher. After several seasons fighting for continuity and a stable role, Djed Spence walks into San Siro with a huge opportunity in front of him: turn potential and flashes of brilliance into the consistent, relentless presence Inter need on their right flank.
