Djed Spence hopes becoming first Muslim England player will inspire others

Before 15 December last year, Spence had played just 64 minutes of Premier League football in the 2024-25 season.

After that date, he completed 90 minutes in 19 of Spurs’ subsequent 22 league games.

The transformation was stark. Spence was so far down then Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou’s pecking order he was not even included in the squad for the Europa League group stage.

He only came in for the knockout stage but played 180 minutes of the last-16 win against AZ Alkmaar.

He was then introduced as a substitute as Spurs beat Manchester United in the final for their first major trophy in 17 years, qualifying for the Champions League in the process.

Such was his progress last season, there was talk of Spence featuring in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad last March.

Spence missed out, with Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly called up as the new left-back face instead, despite the Spurs man making more Premier League tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks and defensive headers at that point in the campaign.

But Spence stayed in the picture, and after playing every minute for Spurs in the new Premier League season to date he has got his call-up to the senior squad.

“It’s definitely a big deal to play for England, 100%,” Spence said.

“The manager has made me feel comfortable, everyone here has made me comfortable. Also I’ve played at under-21s, so I know a bit more. But senior level, I haven’t done it before. The boys have made me feel welcome and taken me in.”

He was given his England Under-21 debut by Lee Carsley in March 2022 against Albania.

Carsley wanted to take Spence to the European Under-21 Championship in 2023, where England triumphed by beating Spain in the final, but injury ruled the defender out of the tournament.

To Carsley, Spence’s rise to prominence is no surprise.

“I love Djed. I think he’s such a good player,” Carsley told BBC Sport earlier this year. “So exciting, so attacking, athletic, a quiet guy but humble.

“He’s got so many attributes, the way he can drive and dribble with the ball, score, create, defend. He’s a player that there’s no ceiling where he could go.”