5Q | Ben Davies on pre-season #13, excitement for ‘another journey’, De Zerbi and 12 years at Spurs: “I couldn't have imagined that it would have turned out any better”

Ben Davies has been a constant throughout.

The defender signed from Swansea in the summer of 2014, made his debut in the Europa League at AEL Limassol and is now up to 363 appearances in all competitions – that puts him joint-25th in our all-time appearance list, level with Jermain Defoe. He’s also reached the 100 cap milestone for Wales.

Now 33, just 21 when he joined us, the start of 2026 has been a test – in January, he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season, in March, he could do nothing as his beloved Wales lost out in World Cup qualifying to Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Now he's fit and raring to go - again - and we caught up with him this week...

Q1 | It’s your 13th pre-season with us – how do you feel?

Ben: “I'm excited for another year, another journey to be honest. In football, when you've been around the club for a long time like I have, I think you'd probably know if it was getting a bit...  I don't feel that way. I'm really excited. You know, last January I had a really bad injury, but I've worked my socks off with real enthusiasm to come back. I feel really good this pre-season, it's been nice to be back training, back playing games, so I'm really excited for what's to come.”

Q2 | Tell us about Roberto De Zerbi…

Ben: “He's relentless in his pursuit for high-quality football. I think every single day on the training pitch he's demanding, but the way he wants to play, you need to work at it, because you know when it comes off, it's beautiful to watch.”

You sense he’s building a real family feel to the group…

Ben: “I think that's important, having gone through what we did last season especially, where it was tough and you saw players dig in, fans dig in, everybody around the club really felt how difficult it was to be in that situation and what we needed to do to get out of it. Sometimes when you're in those tough moments together it brings you a lot closer, and I think fans, staff, coaches, players all feel bonded by those hard moments. It makes you collectively stronger, individually stronger.”

Q3 | We’ve seen a few additions defensively – Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi – and you’re back from injury, that defensive unit is looking strong, isn’t it?

Ben: “We feel excited, especially with the signings we've brought in, and we've all got a clear goal, what's expected from us this year. It's important that we play well with the ball, that can help us defensively the more we have it, the less we’ll have to defend.”

Q4 | I remember when you first joined, you were 21, now you’re 33, father of two – it’s a cliché, but you have literally grown up at Spurs…

Ben: “I literally have, yes. When you sign for a club like Spurs, you probably don't expect to be there 10 years plus, but I've been very fortunate. I've worked hard, given everything I can for this club, and that’s probably a reason I'm still here as well. So, it's become a huge part of my life. It always will be a massive chapter in my life.”

Q5 | I’m guessing the friends you’ve made here during that time – so many of you remain friends – that’s as important as anything, right?

Ben: “Yes, 100%. I've met some amazing people. I met my wife when I moved here, we had our kids when I got here. I've shared big moments, important times in my life, ups, downs, ups, downs. The constant of the people that you see every day at this football club, you know, I've probably spent more time with people at this football club than I have with my own family! I've been lucky enough to spend time with some amazing people, and people that I'm sure will be in my life for a long, long time. Yes, life has been pretty amazing. I've been very, very fortunate in my time since I moved here. I couldn't have imagined that it would have turned out any better.”

Watch | Ben on his new deal - June, 2026