Here is everything you need to know about the Tottenham prospect that has opted against playing for Harambee Stars.
Harambee Stars new coach Benni McCarthy has been dealt a blow after Tottenham Hotspur prospect Djed Spence decided against pledging his international future to Kenya.
Spence, 24, is having a great season with the London side, after capitalising on the injury crisis at the club to earn regular playing time and make the fullback positions his own, despite Spurs’ inconsistency. Speculations have been rife regarding where Djed Spence will play his international football and after Benni McCarthy named his provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers this month,
Djed Spence was missing altogether. It later emerged that Spence is remaining steadfast in his quest to earn England call-up in the not too distant future. Pulse Sports brings you everything you need to know about Djed Spence after Harambee Stars’ snub.
Multicultural heritage
Spurs defender Djed Spence.
Djed Spence is of Kenyan and Jamaican descent, as his mother, Aisha Spence, is Kenyan and his father is Jamaican. However, he was born in England making him English.
As a result of multiple heritage, he can represent Kenya, Jamaica or England in international football. With the attention he is getting at Tottenham Hotspur, English broadcaster, Gary Lineker, suggested he could be England’s solution to their left-back problem.
After winning man of the match against United, Lineker said on his podcast, The Rest is Football: “It is funny that about a year ago, we were talking about England’s left-back problem. Then suddenly you get three emerging at once with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Lewis Hall and Djed Spence. Three young players suddenly look strong in that position, and I think one will be playing in Thomas Tuchel’s first game – fighting for that position.”
Premier League debut
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Djed Spence: has become undroppable for Spurs.
Spence made his Premier League debut for Tottenham Hotspur in 2022, following a successful loan spell at Nottingham Forest where he helped the team win promotion.
He was loaned out to French side Stade Rennais in January 2023 for the remainder of the season. In France, he made 10 appearances for Rennes, including nine starts. Spence then moved to Leeds on loan before being sent out to Italy on another short-term deal. On August 19, 2024, Spence made his first appearance for Tottenham since January 2023 in their opening fixture of the 2024–25 season, replacing Pedro Porro as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Leicester City in the Premier League.
Loan success at Nottingham Forest
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Djed Spence of Tottenham Hotspur in action against Manchester United.
He was a key contributor to Nottingham Forest’s promotion winning side, winning EFL Championship Player and Young Player of the Month in March 2022, becoming the first player to win the latter twice. Spence impressed in FA Cup victories over Premier League clubs Arsenal and Leicester City, scoring the fourth in a 4–1 victory over the latter.
First Tottenham goal
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Harambee Stars prospect Djed Spence in Tottenham Hotspur colours.
Djed Spence scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 2–1 EFL Cup win over Coventry City on September 17. Following long-term injuries to defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Destiny Udogie, Djed Spence received an extended run in the Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup from December 2024. Spence was named Player of the Match for his performance in Tottenham’s 1–0 win over Manchester United on February 16, 2025.
Junior England call-up
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Spurs defender Djed Spence
In March 2022, Spence earned a first international call up to the England Under-21 squad for the European Championship Qualifying matches against Andorra and Albania.He made his debut as a substitute during a 3–0 victory away to the latter on March 29, 2022.
