Tottenham Hotspur have announced that Djed Spence will go out on loan to French club Rennes for the rest of the season.
Tottenham signed Spence from Middlesbrough in July 2022, with the deal costing £20million. Chairman Daniel Levy sanctioned the transfer as he thought Spence could play a big role for Tottenham both now and in the future.
However, Conte disagreed and immediately revealed that it was a signing for the club, and not him.
He has shown his discontent with Levy by refusing to play Spence in most matches. So far, the Englishman has managed just six appearances in all competitions.
A January exit was always going to be a possibility for Spence given his poor situation in north London. And Conte has got his way, with Levy admitting defeat and shipping Spence off to Rennes, where he will play alongside fellow Spurs loanee Joe Rodon.
When announcing the transfer, Spurs released the following statement: ‘Djed Spence has joined Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.
‘Having joined us from Middlesbrough last summer, the England Under-21 international made his Premier League debut in a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in August, 2022.
‘The right-back has made six appearances in our colours to date and will now team up with Joe Rodon, who joined the French side on a season-long loan at the beginning of the current campaign.’
Rennes announce capture of second Tottenham player
In a statement of their own, Rennes revealed that they do not have the option to buy Spence permanently in the summer.
‘With the injuries of Lorenz Assignon and then Hamari Traoré, Stade Rennes has finally accelerated in recent hours to conclude the arrival of a reinforcement,’ they wrote.
‘It will be Djed Spence, who arrives on loan from Tottenham. The player passed his medical examination this morning, and committed himself with the Breton club until the end of the season, on loan without an option to purchase.’
Spence is not the only Spurs right wing-back who could leave on deadline day. Fellow defender Matt Doherty is poised to complete a shock transfer to Atletico Madrid. It will involve the same conditions as Spence’s move – a loan with no option or obligation to buy.
Of course, Spurs need a replacement with both Spence and Doherty going out. They are getting closer to landing Sporting Lisbon’s Pedro Porro. He has already completed his Spurs medical and is set to pen a contract running until June 2028.
