Tottenham: Why Leeds terminated Djed Spence loan deal amid attitude concerns
The right-back’s loan move was ended this week after he appeared in seven games in December.
Djed Spence’s loan agreement with Tottenham was cancelled, according to Leeds manager Daniel Farke, who expressed reservations about the defender’s attitude.
Spence was returned to Spurs on Thursday as the Championship team used the season-long contract’s break clause. The north London side was apparently taken aback by the move.
The right-back has had a difficult time at Elland Road due to injuries. He only played in one game during his first three months there before playing in seven, including six starts, in December, to great acclaim.
Before Leeds’ FA Cup trip to Peterborough on Friday, Farke gave reporters an explanation of the decision-making process involved in signing Spence and then letting him go.
“I don’t want to talk too much about Djed right now, because he’s back at Tottenham and I totally respect that he’s their player,” said he.
“Okay, so when we talk about a player, whether he’s here on a loan or a permanent basis, we have expectations, and these expectations are significant in a number of areas. We came here this summer to establish new values and a new culture within the team.
“It is evident that a player’s potential and quality are important, but so are his professionalism, discipline, workload both on and off the pitch, and soft skills. You can also roughly sketch a picture of him if he is a positive, dedicated member of the team and interested in these subjects.
“And we decided okay, this is the player we want in our group and want to represent Leeds United, our demands are very, very high and we don’t differ between loan players, permanent players so we are pretty picky in this topic.”
Spence left Middlesbrough for Spurs in the summer of 2022 after an incredible loan stint that saw Nottingham Forest gain promotion to the Premier League. When the defender arrived, then-manager Antonio Conte made it obvious that he was a “club signing” rather than a player of his choosing, and he was not utilised much.
Before joining Leeds in August, Spence had a mixed season after a loan transfer to Rennes in the second half of the season.
When pressed for further information behind the choice to end the loan despite giving Spence a significant part during the hectic holiday season, Farke responded, “despite some time following the New Year’s game we’ve evaluated the first half of the
season, the initial months, and particularly the thoughts throughout the holiday season.
“Decisions you make in January are long-term ones. We decided that Djed would return to Tottenham after his loan was terminated. For his time here, we are appreciative.
We sincerely hope for the best for him because he is not only a really brilliant footballer but also a truly nice guy with a big heart. Yes, but there are instances when you have to make a choice and carry it out.
