Djed Spence Set for Inter Debut After Break
Djed Spence arrived in Milan this summer with a World Cup in his legs, a €35m price tag on his back and a fanbase waiting to see what all the fuss was about. They are still waiting. That wait, though, is almost over.
The English right-back, signed permanently from Tottenham, has yet to play a single competitive minute for Inter. Not because Cristian Chivu has lost faith before even starting, but because Spence has been paying the physical bill for a gruelling summer with England at the 2026 World Cup.
Since landing in Italy, the 26-year-old has been working away from the main group, running his own race on adjacent pitches and in the gym while his new teammates settled into the season. The goal has been simple: strip away the fatigue of a demanding tournament and rebuild the sharpness needed for Serie A’s pace.
The images of him in Atlanta, shutting down Giuliano Simeone in England’s semi-final against Argentina, feel a world away from Appiano Gentile. Yet that World Cup workload dictated Inter’s cautious plan. No shortcuts. No rushed cameos. Just a methodical path back to full match fitness.
According to Gazzetta, that path is almost complete. Spence will continue to train separately this week, still on a tailored programme, but the schedule finally opens up for him next week. That is when he is expected to rejoin full sessions with the rest of the squad.
Chivu has granted his players a full week off during the current international window, a rare pause in a packed calendar. Once the break closes, group training for those not away with their national teams resumes on Monday. Spence will be there, this time not as a spectator on the fringes but as a genuine option for the coach.
All of it builds towards a clear target date: October 10. That is when Inter host Parma at San Siro, the first game after the international break and, if all goes to plan, the night Spence finally pulls on the Nerazzurri shirt in a competitive match.
For Inter, it is the moment their €35m investment truly enters the season. For Spence, it is the chance to turn weeks of solitary work into a first stride down the right flank in front of a full Meazza.
