By Ben Sully
Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence has stated that he hopes to have a “long journey” with Genoa following his January loan move.
Spence spent the first half of the season on loan at Leeds United, before the Championship club decided to end the deal last month.
The 23-year-old struggled to make an impression at Elland Road after missing more than two months due to a knee injury.
As a result, the 23-year-old made only seven Championship appearances during his brief time with Daniel Farke’s team.
After returning to Tottenham, Spence was shortly transferred to Genoa, where he joined on loan as part of a transaction that also saw Radu Dragusin leave.
With the loan deal said to contain a buy option, the full-back has hinted that he would be open to staying with Genoa beyond the end of the current campaign.
“I knew they had already been looking for me last summer,” Spence told Gazzetta dello Sport“Now, the right conditions were evidently there to close the operation.
“I’m satisfied. It’s an important opportunity. I hope that this can be the beginning of a long journey in a club that is growing.
“I found a nice team and a pleasant city. I settled in quickly. They supported me in everything. Everyone in the locker room has helped.
“There’s a nice atmosphere here. Soon I will start studying Italian. For now, I preferred to concentrate on football.”
Spence has struggled to establish himself in North London after joining the club from Middlesbrough in a £15m deal in the summer of 2022.
After failing to make an impression under then-manager Antonio Conte, Spence went out on loan to Rennes for the second half of last season.
While Ange Postecoglou is now the man in charge in North London, the full-back has been unable to force his way into the Australian’s thinking.
Spence has started Genoa’s last three Serie A matches, helping his new side pick up seven points from a possible nine.
The former England Under-21 international could make his fourth consecutive start when Genoa face Atalanta in Sunday’s home fixture.
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