Why Middlesbrough are set for cash windfall from Tottenham | OneFootball

Middlesbrough will receive a payment from Tottenham when Djed Spence makes his second competitive start for England, which could come next month.

Middlesbrough could be in line to benefit financially if Tottenham’s Djed Spence makes his second competitive start for England in the November international break.

The 25-year-old joined Boro as a teenager in 2018, and he went on to make 70 appearances for the club in a mixed four years at the Riverside Stadium.

A loan spell with Nottingham Forest really enhanced Spence’s profile, and Spurs saw enough to agree a deal worth up to £20m for the full-back during the summer of 2022.

Middlesbrough included England add-ons as part of Djed Spence sale to Tottenham

It was reported that the Londoners were paying £12.5m up front for Spence, with the final £7.5m performance related add-ons.

It’s unclear exactly what those entail, but the Northern Echo has revealed that one of the clauses included Spence’s international appearances.

They explain that Boro will be in line for a payment from Spurs once the defender has made two starts for England in competitive games.

Spence already has three caps for the Three Lions, but his only competitive start came in the emphatic win at Latvia earlier this month, and whilst he has played in two competitive games, he was used from the bench in the victory at Serbia back in September.

Therefore, Boro are still waiting for the clause to be triggered, but they will hope it comes in the next few weeks, with Thomas Tuchel’s side due to play Serbia at Wembley and Albania away from home in qualifying games.

Djed Spence has finally started to fulfil his potential for club and country

Given how Spence has performed for Tuchel, it would be a huge surprise if he wasn’t called up for the qualifiers, and he will fancy his chances of getting in the XI from the start - which will no doubt delight Boro.

To his credit, Spence has found consistency now after struggling at times in his career, but that’s to be expected for someone who was a young player.

Now, he is at a good point in his career, and he will be desperate to book his place on the plane for the World Cup, as that will surely be a highlight for Spence.

It’s fair to say that many connected to Middlesbrough, including a certain former manager, will not have expected Spence to be in such a position, so he deserves praise for finding a level that has put him into contention to start for England.