Everton chase £40m boost but face a risky gamble on Djed Spence

Everton receive a boost in signing defender Djed Spence, but why the £40 million risk? The Merseyside club are on the verge of completing a £40 million deal for Tottenham full‑back Djed Spence, a move that could reshape their right‑back options this summer.

The transfer is linked to a chain reaction in north London, where Spurs must first secure Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams. According to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness via Transfer Feed, if the Williams deal goes through, Spence will receive the green light to head to Goodison Park.

Everton face a right‑back crisis after Seamus Coleman’s departure, leaving the position exposed under manager David Moyes. Spence offers the versatility Moyes values, able to operate on either flank and provide tactical flexibility.

In the 2023‑24 Premier League season, Spence featured in 30 matches, started 23, and accumulated over 2,000 minutes. He recorded zero goals and zero assists, while averaging nearly two tackles, a few interceptions and more than two clearances per 90 minutes.

His performances for England at the World Cup boosted his reputation and inflated his market value. The £40 million price tag therefore represents a significant gamble for Everton.

New ownership at Everton seeks to demonstrate ambition, yet spending such an amount on a player who did not consistently produce offensively raises efficiency concerns. If the fee were reduced to around £25 million, the logic of the signing would be clearer; at £40 million it appears to benefit the seller more than the buyer.

Should the transfer materialise, Everton will secure a versatile defender to plug a glaring gap in their back line. Tottenham will obtain a substantial fee and potentially free up space for the Neco Williams acquisition, leaving both clubs with high stakes attached to the outcome.