‘Crazy feeling’ as Spence and Sessegnon are reunited
Fri 22 July 2022, 15:48|
Tottenham Hotspur
Djed Spence and Ryan Sessegnon are thrilled at the prospect of lining up together on the pitch for the first time since their school days in the wake of Djed’s move to the Club this week.
It’s a little over four years since the pair were in the same age group in Fulham’s academy system, team-mates on opposite flanks until they went full-time in 2016, aged 16.
From that moment, their footballing journeys took different trajectories – Ryan was elevated straight to the first team and ended up signing for us three years later, with Djed spending two further seasons in the Cottagers’ Under-18s alongside Ryan’s twin brother Steven before being picked up by Middlesbrough in 2018. Initially joining Boro’s Under-23s, he progressed to their senior side and enjoyed a fantastic season on loan at Nottingham Forest last term, being named in the Championship Team of the Year as Steve Cooper’s men won promotion to the Premier League.
Now he’s become a Spurs player, the flying full-backs are at the same club once more – something they’re both excited about.
“I’ve known Ryan from a young age… I grew up with him at Fulham and obviously came through the academy with him,” Djed explained. “He was there before me, eventually I came along and we grew up through the ranks from the Under-12s to Under-16s. We played in a Premier League tournament together, won that, Ryan then went up with the first team at a young age and obviously his career has gone very well so far. I spoke to him (before signing for us) and he said just to be prepared to work hard and do a lot of running, so I’m ready for that! I can’t wait to get involved.”
For his part, Ryan is equally pleased about the arrival of his old pal and fellow England Under-21 international.
“Getting the chance to play again with someone who I grew up with in academy football… it’s obviously exciting and what he’s gone on to achieve since those days at Fulham is fantastic, so it’s good that he’s a Spurs player now and a team-mate again,” he smiled. “It’s a crazy feeling because at 16, we were playing together. I remember it was from the Under-12s to the Under-16s and then our careers went on different paths, so to meet up again now where we’re soon to both be 22 is great.
“He’s a very attacking full-back or wing-back. He likes to get down the right, get some crosses in, he’s an aggressive and forward-thinking player, so it’s brilliant that he’s here now.”
