Djed Spence says being England’s first Muslim player would be “amazing”

• Tottenham full-back Djed Spence said he was “surprised” and “amazed” to learn he could become England’s first openly Muslim men’s player.
• Spence credited his faith for carrying him through his toughest career setbacks, saying: “In the darkest moments, I’ve always believed that God has been by my side.”
• The 25-year-old hopes his journey can inspire children of all backgrounds: “If I can do it, you can do it, man.”

Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence said it would be “amazing” to make history as England’s first openly Muslim men’s international after being called up by Thomas Tuchel for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

The 25-year-old was one of two new names in Tuchel’s squad for matches against Andorra and Serbia, and admitted he was shocked both by the call-up and the significance of what it could mean. “I’ve seen that,” Spence said. “It’s a blessing, it’s amazing. I did see something like that. I was surprised, really, first ever. It’s just amazing. I don’t have the words really.”

Asked whether he felt pressure at the prospect of being the first of his faith to represent the senior side, Spence replied: “Maybe, maybe not. I don’t really feel the pressure for certain things. I just play football with a smile on my face, be happy, and the rest will take care of itself.”

Spence has long spoken about the role his faith plays in his life and career. “First things first, God is the greatest,” he said. “I pray a lot. I give gratitude to God. In the toughest moments of my life, the darkest moments, I’ve always believed that God has always been by my side. When I’m winning, when I’m in a good moment, I promote God as well because he’s always been by my side. It’s a big thing for me, my faith.”

That belief, he explained, helped him through what he described as the “biggest hurdle” of his career. After an impressive promotion campaign with Nottingham Forest in 2022, Spence earned a move from Middlesbrough to Spurs, but then-manager Antonio Conte downplayed the transfer as a “club signing.” “I did really well, got promoted with Nottingham Forest,” Spence said. “I am buzzing, I am going to sign for Tottenham. So, to hear comments like that wasn’t nice. It does shatter your confidence a bit. But, you know, I am fighter, so whatever I do I will try to do my best in everything I can.”

Loan spells at Rennes, Leeds, and Genoa followed, with Spence leaning on his mantra that “when you believe in yourself and trust in God everything will align with itself.” He finally made his full Spurs debut last December and went on to play a part in the club’s Europa League triumph, coming off the bench in the final against Athletic Bilbao. “Without [a strong] mentality, you won’t make it to the top,” he said. “I definitely think I have got a strong mentality, especially to fight through challenges.”

Spence has often used criticism as fuel. After promotion with Forest, he famously tagged former Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock in a celebratory post holding the play-off trophy and smoking a cigar. Asked if he keeps a list of doubters, he laughed: “I wouldn’t say I particularly have a list or anything. But I do have a mental note of people who doubted me, for sure, and it does feel good to prove them wrong.”

Now, with his England chance in hand, Spence wants his story to inspire others. “If I can do it, you can do it,” he said. “Not just Muslim kids, any child of any faith. Put your mind to something and you can do it, man.”