The Lead

A Tier 2 report from Sky Sports News has confirmed that Everton are interested in Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence. Vinny O’Connor broke the news on the Sky Sports transfer blog, revealing that the England full-back has been discussed internally as a target. The pursuit remains in the early stages, with no official bid launched yet.

Spence is currently away with the England national team at the 2026 World Cup in North America. The defender is focused entirely on his international duties, meaning any formal negotiations will wait. His future at Tottenham has become uncertain following a squad overhaul led by manager Roberto De Zerbi.

The Player Profile

Spence's career path has been a study in perseverance. After bursting onto the scene at Middlesbrough, his move to Tottenham in 2022 stalled under previous managers. Loans to Rennes, Leeds United, and Genoa yielded mixed results, but his 16-game stint in Serie A with Genoa finally revived his career.

That Italian reboot paved the way for a remarkable resurgence back at Tottenham. Last season, Spence established himself as a regular under De Zerbi, making 30 Premier League appearances, including 23 starts. His performances caught the eye of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who handed Spence his senior international debut on September 9, 2025.

In doing so, Spence became the first Muslim player to be capped for the England men's senior team in a 5–0 win over Serbia. Tuchel subsequently named him in the 26-man squad for the World Cup, where he made his tournament debut in England's 4–2 victory against Croatia. Yet, despite playing 2,056 minutes of top-flight football last term, major questions remain over his output.

The defender failed to register a single goal or assist last season. For an attacking full-back, that lack of end product is a clear weakness. David Moyes will need to address this limitation if he brings the defender to Merseyside.

The Tactical Fit

Moyes is seeking a dynamic, hard-working option to transition Everton into their new home. The Toffees are set to move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with their first home game scheduled for September 6 against Manchester United. Spence's elite ball-carrying ability would offer a contrast to Everton's current right-back options.

However, his defensive positioning has often been questioned. Playing in a back-four under Moyes is far more demanding than playing as a wing-back under De Zerbi. Spence will have to improve his defensive discipline if he wants to cement a starting spot under the Scottish manager.

His tactical adaptability will be tested under Moyes. While De Zerbi encouraged full-backs to invert, Moyes demands structured defensive shape and traditional overlapping runs. Spence must adapt to this pragmatic style or face sitting on the Goodison bench.

The Wider Summer Context

Everton have already been active in the market to support Moyes. Yesterday, the club completed the permanent signing of winger Tyrique George from Chelsea, as confirmed on the Everton transfer tracker. The Toffees paid an initial fee of £18 million, which could rise to £24 million with performance-related add-ons.

George spent last season on loan at Goodison Park, making 11 appearances. Like Spence, his lack of production is a concern, as he failed to score or assist during his loan spell. Everton allowed their initial option to buy George to expire, playing a waiting game to negotiate a lower price.

Chelsea have also protected themselves by retaining a 15 per cent sell-on clause. George expressed his delight after signing his permanent contract:

This is a massive club. I've seen for myself how passionate the fans are about Everton, how much it means to them – and I want to put on good performances, score goals, and create goals to make them happy.

This deal followed last week's capture of midfielder Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough for £25 million. The 24-year-old signed a five-year contract on Merseyside, beating out competition from Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace to secure the midfielder. Discussing his move, Hackney made his intentions clear:

I'm delighted to be here. As soon as I spoke to the manager, as soon as I knew Everton were interested, to be honest, it was always going to be Everton.

The Financial and Squad Equation

To balance these incomings, Everton face pressure to sell. West Ham are showing interest in winger Dwight McNeil, with new director of player recruitment Nils Koppen set to discuss the move with manager Nuno Espirito Santo. McNeil has previously attracted interest from Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.

Everton are also searching for goalkeeper depth behind Jordan Pickford and Mark Travers. They have held talks with free agent Karl Darlow, who is weighing an offer from Leeds United alongside interest from Manchester United. This indicates Moyes is looking to reinforce every department of his squad.

Tottenham's stance on Spence is pragmatic. While De Zerbi has not officially transfer-listed the defender, Spurs are open to offers to help balance their books after substantial spending. Spence is currently under contract at Tottenham until June 2029, earning a salary of £75,000 per week.

A bid in the region of £18 million to £22 million would likely tempt Spurs to sell. Everton's budget has been bolstered by their move to the new stadium, but they cannot afford to overpay. A loan with an obligation to buy seems the most plausible compromise for both clubs.

The Probability Assessment

We rate the probability of this transfer happening at 45 per cent. While Everton's interest is genuine, the lack of progress and the player's World Cup focus will delay any movement. The deal will only gain traction if West Ham advance their bid for McNeil, freeing up wages and transfer funds.

Spurs will also need to secure a replacement before letting Spence go. With De Zerbi demanding specific profiles for his system, Tottenham will not sanction a departure without a replacement lined up. This makes a late August resolution highly probable.

The Expected Impact

If Spence signs, he immediately challenges for the starting right-back spot. His pace would give Everton a new dimension in counter-attacks, especially when linking up with new signing Tyrique George. However, if Moyes cannot improve Spence's defensive discipline, he could become a liability in tight matches.

Ultimately, this transfer represents a calculated gamble for the Toffees. Adding a young, talented England international is a statement of intent for the new stadium era. However, Spence must prove he can deliver concrete goals and assists to justify the outlay.