Sports

Why Djed Spence’s transfer to Inter for £25m makes sense for all parties

Published

8 hours ago

August 16, 2026

In many ways, this has been the summer of Djed Spence.

Making Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup was a major achievement when you bear in mind he almost left Tottenham Hotspur in summer 2024 after a five-month loan at Genoa, only for the Italian club to decline to take up an £8.5million option to sign him permanently.

But in North America across this June and July, Spence became a household name, charming fans back home with his desire to defend, game-changing cameos from the bench and a reserved charisma in interviews.

One tackle he made on Giuliano Simeone in the 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina (below) remains among the highlights of the tournament for England fans, with the cheers across the nation for that moment as loud as they were for Anthony Gordon’s goal earlier in the match.

(Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)

Many Spurs fans were looking forward to giving Spence a hero’s welcome upon his return to north London as a newly-minted international star. However, just as his career enters its most exciting phase, the Tottenham chapter of it has now closed.

The north Londoners have agreed to send the 26-year-old back to Serie A for in the region of €30million (around £25.6m; $34.6m). Only this time, he is going to the Italian champions, Inter, underscoring how rapidly his reputation has grown in the game in the two years since that Genoa loan.

It is a transfer that has split opinions within the Tottenham fanbase, centred on that fee. “International stars” in the prime of their careers and with several years remaining on their contract (three in this case) at a ‘Big Six’ club in the Premier League don’t tend to move for anything less than £60million, to be conservative. So to receive less than half of that for Spence seems, at best, incongruous.

But as much as Spence thrilled over the summer, his current perceived standing in the game does not entirely reflect his standing at Spurs — and for that reason, this is a deal that makes sense for all parties.

In an interview with the BBC during the World Cup, Spence said he “prefers” right-back, because it’s his “natural” position. In a separate conversation with UK newspaper The Guardian during the tournament, he said he is still learning to play left-back, having deputised frequently in that role since Tottenham’s then head coach Ange Postecoglou plucked him from the cold amid an injury crisis in late 2024.

Unfortunately, Pedro Porro, fresh off starting all six games as Spain won the World Cup, was in his way as the club’s first-choice right-back. If Spence left the States last month as a breakout star, Porro asserted his claim to being one of, if not the, best right-backs in the world, playing a crucial role as Spain’s men earned their second world-champions’ star for their shirts.

Typically a standout performer for Spurs irrespective of the team’s wider struggles, Porro took his game to another level this summer when playing within a settled, possession-heavy system under Luis de la Fuente, and was recognised for his outstanding performances with selection to the tournament’s all-star team.

Tottenham rewarded Porro with a bumper long-term contract extension a few days into the World Cup, which now ranks as one of their shrewdest moves of the summer, owing to his footballing connection and personal bond with their head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who described him as “the best right-back in the world” in an interview with reporters during the recent pre-season tour to New Zealand and Australia.

A champion’s return for our Pedro 🤍🏆 pic.twitter.com/CDLBpCWZuM

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 13, 2026

As well as potentially being their best player, Porro is also Tottenham’s most durable star.

Amid the season-wrecking injury crises that have haunted them over recent years, the now 26-year-old has racked up the most minutes and most appearances, only missing one month in January and February this year due to a hamstring injury.

Put plainly, if Spence was going to play right-back for Spurs, he would have to unseat a player the club’s performance staff believe is a physical outlier and who De Zerbi ranks as the world’s best in that position.

Sure, he could be a perfectly serviceable backup for Porro, but in the prime of his career, coming off a tournament where he made his name, perhaps Tottenham owe him the chance to try to be something more than that.

Never in his four years in north London, which also includes loans to Rennes in France and Leeds United, has Spence been first-choice at his preferred position. He didn’t even get the chance to occupy it during Porro’s absence earlier this year as he was needed to fill in on the left. Only 10 of his 59 starts for Tottenham came at right-back or right wing-back.

(Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)

That’s before you consider that he is not a natural fit for De Zerbi, who directed Porro to push into midfield and occupy the right half-space across his seven-game stint in charge at the end of last season, amplifying his technical ability and close control. This role is at odds with Spence, who is more comfortable as a dribbler, operating closer to the touchline.

It is not yet clear whether Spurs will target a replacement, but finding a backup on the continent who has a similar profile to De Zerbi’s first-choice, perhaps not as accomplished or skilled but content to play a squad-rotation role, should be fairly straightforward. For reference, Bournemouth have signed right-back Juanlu Sanchez from Sevilla for around €11million in this window, while proven Premier League left-back Lucas Digne left Aston Villa for Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth between €7million and €8m.

Their left-back situation?

Aside from Spence’s stated preference to play on his natural side, Spurs have recruited two new left-backs in 2026, one of whom is Andy Robertson, a Premier League and Champions League winner with Liverpool. He will also be competing for that spot in the team with Destiny Udogie, a natural left-sider who is more comfortable receiving the ball on his stronger side and progressing attacks.

Udogie’s patchy injury record is a concern, but with Robertson, Souza (the now 20-year-old Brazilian signed from Santos in January) and even Micky van de Ven, a centre-back at club level who typically plays left-back for the Netherlands, as backup, a lack of numbers in that position need not be a consideration.

And as he said himself recently, Spence is still learning the position. In that interview with The Guardian mentioned above, he said, “Going forward is a bit different playing on the left because it’s not my natural side.”

What were football transfers like before the transfer window?

Tifo Football

While he remains an excellent one-v-one defender irrespective of which flank he is deployed on, Spence prefers to dribble with his right foot, which limits angles and can close off the pitch, and is not a consistently accurate crosser on his weaker foot.

If fans and reporters who watch Tottenham consistently can fairly unanimously recognise these as weaknesses for Spence on the left, data analytics and scouting teams from the Premier League and across Europe can, too. So while the fee Spurs are getting may seem minimal in the context of the World Cup, it’s worth remembering that it probably would not have felt particularly low before it.

Though there are exceptions, football’s recruiting departments largely draw their list of summer targets based on performances at club level, not the international game, and Spence has been in and out of a Tottenham side that has struggled badly in the league over the past two seasons.

So while debates continue about whether they could have squeezed another €10million out of a team somewhere on the continent or even in the Premier League, Spence now embarks on a new challenge, playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world who have been a Champions League knockout-phase fixture for years.

And if Tottenham end up regretting it, either because Porro suffers an unlikely injury or Spence goes to another level in Milan, at least they will have helped him on his way to finally becoming the main man in his favoured position, as he helped them on their way to Europa League final glory in 2025.

Sports

Jeremy Jacquet’s first Liverpool cameo: Composure, recovery pace – and a goal

Published

3 minutes ago

August 16, 2026

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Liverpool completed their pre-season preparations for the start of the Andoni Iraola era with two games on Sunday.

The first, a forgettable 0-0 in a 70-minute runout against Italian side Como, was followed by a 90-minuter against the same side later in the day.

Defender Jeremy Jacquet made his first appearance since his move from Rennes after recovering from injury, impressed in defence and even got on the scoresheet, much to the delight of the Kop.

Cody Gakpo, linked with a move away, also scored while Victor Munoz also gave a good account of himself.

So with Iraola’s first Premier League game in charge coming against Newcastle United on Sunday, what did we learn?

Andy Jones and Gregg Evans look at the talking points.

Where does Jacquet fit in?

Jeremy Jacquet stood tall on his first game in red and showed those watching exactly why Liverpool were so keen to acquire his services.

The 21-year-old impressed from the first minute with his composure on the ball, ability to wriggle out of tight spaces and blistering recovery speed.

After missing most of the summer with a minor knee injury sustained as he was recovering from a shoulder injury, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he was a little rusty.
Instead, he marshalled the defence alongside Virgil van Dijk without ever looking flustered.

The Kop even began singing his name as early as the 16th minute and by half-time, when he was replaced, he was the player generating the most discussion after scoring the second goal.

Not everything about his performance was perfect, but when he did fall out of position or lose his opponent, he was quick to recover. There were key interceptions, last-ditch tackles, and a handful of rapid sprints that were particularly eye-catching.

With Ibrahima Konate out the door and starting a new chapter at Real Madrid, there’s a chance for Jacquet to flourish providing he can stay fit. After a display like that, he will be expected to start the Premier League opener at Newcastle on Sunday ahead of Ronald Araujo, who was steady on his debut after a half-time introduction.

Gregg Evans

How is Gakpo looking this summer?

As supporters continue to wait for a breakthrough in the pursuit of Bradley Barcola, the man who could end up making way if he arrives reminded everyone watching of his qualities.

Cody Gakpo suffered a dip in form last season and has been constantly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, who are interested in the Dutchman but yet to make any meaningful progress.

This summer, though, Gakpo has returned with a spring in his step and backed up a solid display against Monaco last week with another good performance here.

In this victory, he showed a combination of close skill and clever decision-making before scoring the opening goal with a powerful finish.

When he plays with such direct, attacking poise, he’s a real handful and an important source of goals. If he does stay on board, then Liverpool need him to find the form that made him such a hit in the 2024-25 title-winning season.

(Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

However, until the window closes, he’ll continue to be a hot topic. As well his best friend at Liverpool, Curtis Jones, who, unlike Gakpo, has failed to make an impact under Iraola so far. Liverpool said Jones was suffering with a hip injury that “wasn’t worth risking” last week and again it was enough to keep him out as he completed an individual session at the AXA Training Centre.

The midfielder’s future remains uncertain as he’s now into the final year of his contract and no closer to extending. Inter Milan have tried to sign him this summer but are yet to reach Liverpool’s €40million valuation and his absence continues to raise discussions about whether he’ll still be at the club next month.

Gregg Evans

How did Munoz look?

While there were few fireworks in Liverpool’s first friendly, the performance of summer signing Victor Munoz offered further encouragement about the threat he can offer to Iraola’s side.

The 23-year-old made his first start after a 30-minute cameo in the 3-2 defeat to Monaco last weekend. While he struggled to impose himself in that match, he was Liverpool’s main source of creativity during his 45 minutes on the pitch.

Almost immediately we saw some of Munoz’s standout traits. On three minutes, he received the ball out wide, twisted and turned away from the opposition defender and crossed for Trey Nyoni, who headed wide.

Munoz has had a good pre-season sinc ehis move (Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Two minutes later, from a standing start, he showed off his speed and acceleration to race past a defender to the byline, but his low cross was blocked for a corner. There was a similar moment in the second half when he skipped past two Como challenges before forcing another corner.

The end product was the main element that he was lacking, but the creativity was there. He nearly found Federico Chiesa with a through ball in the first half and then the pair connected in the second half when Munoz’s near post cross was flicked on by the Italy international into the arms of the goalkeeper.

There seemed to be an early understanding with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister — who made his first appearance in pre-season, clocking up 59 minutes — as the Argentina international looked to play the ball in behind Como’s right full-back for Munoz to run on to.

His day was not over, either as he played 17 minutes in the second game. This time he played on the right flank, highlighting the versatility he has.

It remains early days, but given Liverpool’s attack was so devoid of pace and dynamism last season, he will offer Iraola something different that should cause opposition problems.

Andy Jones

Sports

'Very last stroke!' – GB win dramatic relay gold

Published

10 minutes ago

August 16, 2026

qasimgillani

Great Britain win gold in the women’s 4x100m relay, stealing the win from Italy in a dramatic finish as the swim comes right down to the wire.

Sports

How to watch Orioles vs. Rays: TV channel and streaming options for August 16

Published

16 minutes ago

August 16, 2026

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The Tampa Bay Rays host the Baltimore Orioles at 12:15 p.m. ET on Sunday, featuring two top-10 sluggers. Junior Caminero has 35 homers (third in league) for the Rays, and Pete Alonso ranks ninth with 27 round-trippers for the Orioles. Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.33 ERA) gets the start for the Rays, who are 74-48 this season and first in the AL East. Trevor Rogers (7-8, 4.21 ERA) is the expected starter for the Orioles, who are 60-63 and fifth in the AL East.

How to watch Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Orioles vs. Rays odds

Favorite Moneyline: Rays -143
Underdog Moneyline: Orioles +118
Total: 7.5
Total Over Odds: +105
Total Under Odds: -125

Injury reports

Rays

Ben Williamson: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Cole Sulser: 15 Day IL (Back), Shane McClanahan: 15 Day IL (Back), Griffin Jax: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Jake Fraley: 60 Day IL (Groin), Manuel Rodriguez: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ryan Pepiot: 60 Day IL (Hip), Gavin Lux: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Jon Heasley: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Edwin Uceta: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Victor Mesa Jr.: day-to-day (Hamstring)

Orioles

Samuel Basallo: 10 Day IL (Shoulder), Blaze Alexander: 10 Day IL (Hand), Zach Eflin: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Felix Bautista: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Keegan Akin: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ryan Helsley: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ryan Mountcastle: 60 Day IL (Foot), Jordan Westburg: 60 Day IL (Ucl), Colin Selby: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)

Stats to know

Caminero is hitting for a .275 BA, .366 OBP and .544 SLG with an 18.5% strikeout rate and a 12.3% walk rate. His OPS is .910, which ranks 5th in MLB, and he has scored 77 runs. In 535 plate appearances, he has hit 35 home runs (3rd in MLB) and driven in 79 runs (7th in MLB).
In 520 plate appearances, Yandy Diaz is hitting .303/.371/.463 with a .834 OPS. He has hit 17 long balls, driven in 69 runs and scored 68 times.
Alonso has hit 27 home runs this season, which ranks 9th in MLB. He has also tallied 78 RBIs (8th in MLB) and has scored 75 runs. In 534 plate appearances, he has recorded a .264 BA, .356 OBP and .487 SLG with an 11.4% walk rate and a 24.2% strikeout rate.
In 554 plate appearances, Gunnar Henderson has hit 20 long balls, tallied 51 RBIs and scored 74 runs. He is batting .221/.303/.402 and has posted a 22.4% strikeout rate and a 9% walk rate. Henderson has recorded nine steals on 14 attempts.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

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Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images