CloseJames Olley is a senior soccer writer for ESPN.com. Read his archive here and follow him on Twitter: @JamesOlley.
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Djed Spence joined Tottenham Hotspur in July 2022 as one of the most promising young defenders in English football. Eighteen months later, the 23-year-old is facing a fight to salvage his career at the highest level.
Spurs fought off competition from a number of clubs to sign Spence for a deal worth up to £19 million after the right-back excelled at Nottingham Forest on loan from parent club Middlesbrough. Forest achieved promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years and Spence was voted into both the EFL's and PFA's Team of the Season for his 39 league appearances, in addition to a starring role as Steve Cooper's side dumped Arsenal, Leicester City and Huddersfield Town out of the FA Cup before losing narrowly to Liverpool in the quarterfinals.
In signing Spence -- quick, direct and purposeful in the final third -- Spurs appeared to have snapped up a dynamic full-back perfectly suited to the demands of the modern game. Yet Spence would go on to make just six substitute appearances totalling 43 minutes before being sent out on loan, firstly to Rennes and later to Leeds United. The latter spell was abruptly cut short this month, leaving him in the wilderness.
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Sources told ESPN that Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou sent Spence to train with the under-21s and the club were willing to listen to permanent offers to cut their losses on a player now having to prove he can still realise his considerable potential.
Spence's former manager at Middlesbrough, Neil Warnock, once said Spence was either destined for "Premier League or non-league" amid concerns about his hunger to reach the top. Last week, Spence joined Genoa on another short-term loan deal in what represents a crossroads in his career.
How did it come to this? Can he get his once-promising career back on an upward trajectory?
Well done Djed , I did say you were premier league or non league, glad you listened and took my advice on board now go and enjoy your success
Those cigars won't do you any good though son