The Mirror

Tottenham Hotspur full-back Djed Spence has earned his first senior England call-up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia and could make his debut

Djed Spence is set to create his own piece of history by becoming the first Muslim to play for England. Tottenham defender Spence, 25, has revealed his pride in being a trailblazer and also how his faith has helped him overcome even the hardest times in his career.

The Football Association will also recognise it as a point in time for the first openly Muslim player to represent the senior England team ahead of Saturday’s World Cup qualifier with Andorra at Villa Park. Spence said: “It’s a blessing, it’s amazing.

"I did see something like that. I was surprised, really, first ever. It’s just amazing. I don’t have the words really.

“I think it shows if I can do it, you can do it. Not just Muslim kids, any child of any faith. Put your mind to something and you can do it, man.

“It’s definitely a big deal to play for England, 100 per cent. I don’t really feel the pressure for certain things. I just play football with a smile on my face, be happy, and the rest will take care of itself.”

Spence has endured a rollercoaster career which has taken him from Middlesbrough to Nottingham Forest onto Tottenham and then loan spells with Rennes, Leeds and Genoa. It would be fair to say there have been bumps in the road on his journey - not least with highly critical remarks from ex-Spurs boss Antonio Conte and former Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock - but his religion has carried him through.

Spence said: “First things first, God is the greatest. I pray a lot, I give gratitude to God. It’s a big thing for me, my faith.

“In the toughest moments of my life, the darkest moments, i’ve always believed that God has always been by my side. When I’m winning, when I’m in a good moment, I promote God as well because he’s always been by my side.”

Spence joined Tottenham in 2022 and, despite only really establishing himself last season under Ange Postecoglou, the fans have always backed him. His energy, drive and determination from both full back positions have made him a firm favourite and the supporters have called for him to play even when he was not starting.

That makes him smile along with the support of his three older sisters, his dad Simon and his No1 fan, mum Aisha who used to drive him everywhere as a kid trying to break through. Now Spence is reaping the rewards and he also says that his mentality and determination have carried him through.

Spence said: “I wouldn’t say a tough journey, but it’s been a long journey. There have been good times and bad times, but I think when you believe in yourself and trust in God, everything will align with itself. Without a strong mentality, you won’t make it to the top. I definitely think I have got a strong mentality, especially to fight through challenges.

“Sometimes in football when things go bad, they go really bad. I was out on loan, playing, then I stopped playing and then got injured before the under-21s Euros… and they won it. I would have loved that. So I would probably say that was a point in my career where it was really tough.

"It has always been my plan to make it to the senior team. It might not have been in my vision so close ahead. It’s a blessing.”

While Conte was the lowest point at Tottenham, it was Postecoglou who helped him win the Europa League and he celebrated with his now traditional picture of himself smoking a cigar. Spence is also very positive about new Spurs boss Thomas Frank.

Spence added: “I feel I’m getting better day by day. I feel I’m improving and that’s down to me staying focused, being a sponge and listening to my coaches and the staff.

“Just that willing to learn. I want to be the best in my position and to do that you’ve got to keep working hard and keep taking on advice. You’ve got to do everything to the maximum.

“Ange Postecoglou made me a champion, so I always have gratitude to him for that. And he was a good manager, good guy. I don't really have anything else to say really about it. Gave me my opportunity, which I'm grateful for. I've respect for him.

“Thomas Frank is amazing, man. He’s been amazing to me, fills me with confidence, very open and just a down to earth manager. I think he’s going to be amazing for the club.”

Antonio Conte shattered Djed Spence's confidence shortly after Tottenham signed him in the summer of 2022, but now the full-back is shining and has been called up by England

Djed Spence has accused former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte of “shattering his confidence.”

Tottenham defender Spence launched a stinging attack on Conte and revealed he keeps a “mental note” of all the managers who have doubted him in his career.

Napoli boss Conte made it clear that Spence was not his signing when Spurs bought him back in the summer of 2022 as the Italian said: “Spence is an investment of the club. The club wanted to do it. The club decided to buy him.”

Spence did not start a single Premier League game under Conte before being farmed out on loan to French club Rennes just five months later.

Full back Spence, 25, who has now won his first senior England call-up, said: “I would probably say the biggest hurdle is when I signed for Tottenham and I didn’t necessarily feel the love straight away, with the manager and everything.

“I was on such a high going into the club. When I went there, I was on a high, and then I almost came crashing down because of comments from the manager and not playing. I was in a difficult space then.

“I am buzzing, I am going to sign for Tottenham. So to hear comments like that wasn’t nice. It does shatter your confidence a bit.

“But, you know, I am a fighter. So, whatever I do I will try to do my best in everything I can. Fast forward, I am here now, so I am happy.

“I wouldn't say I particularly have a list or anything, but I do have a mental note of people who doubted me, for sure, and it does feel good to prove them wrong.

“Obviously, at the time it wasn't nice but I feel like I don't put my energy into certain things like that. I just focus, do what I need to do. I've got a good family behind me that keeps me focused.”

Tottenham name Champions League squad as £30m summer signing among six players left out

Tottenham have confirmed a 22-man squad for the Champions League group stage with the likes of James Maddison and Yves Bissouma missing out on the competition

Mathys Tel is among six players who have been left out of Tottenham's Champions League squad for the first half of the 2025/26 season.

The club had to submit their 25-man squad for the league phase to UEFA by 11pm on Tuesday, September 2, ahead of their return to Europe's top competition later this month.

Tottenham has previously faced challenges with their European squad due to differing rules from those in the Premier League. The issue lies in a shortage of club-trained players and an excess of more than the required four association-trained players and the permitted 17 non-homegrown players.

This has led to previous managers having to exclude players from a European squad. The situation has worsened this season, with a total of six players being dropped by Thomas Frank for the league phase.

The players left out are Radu Dragusin, Kota Takai, Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Tel, who joined Spurs in a £30m permanent deal this summer having spent the second half of last season on loan. Maddison is expected to miss the bulk of the season with an ACL injury, while Kulusevski is also currently sidelined.

Unfortunately, Tottenham are not in a position to name a full 25-man squad for the Champions League due to a lack of club-trained players. Brandon Austin is the only player in that category, leaving three spots unfilled, reports Football London.

This puts them in a difficult situation where they can only name a 22-man squad instead of the usual 25.

A revised squad list can be submitted for the knockout round, allowing a maximum of three changes for the remaining matches in the tournament. In last season's Europa League, Djed Spence was added to the Tottenham squad for the knockout phase after being left out for the initial part of the competition, with manager Ange Postecoglou regrettably having to make cuts.

In this season's Champions League, Spurs are set to face Villarreal, Bodo/Glimt, AS Monaco, FC Copenhagen, PSG, Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt. Here is Tottenham's squad for the league phase:.

Goalkeepers: Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Brandon Austin.

Defenders: Kevin Danso, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven.

Midfielders: Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Mohammed Kudus, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur.

Strikers: Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani.

Arsenal have agreed a deal for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie and the Ecuador international has previously been compared to a Tottenham Hotspur star

Arsenal are set to seal a move for Bayer Leverkusen star Piero Hincapie, who was previously likened to Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero. Hincapie has spent four years at Leverkusen but is expected to become Arsenal’s eighth signing of the summer.

The Gunners have agreed an initial loan deal with an option to buy the 23-year-old for £45million, despite reportedly having a £50m release clause. He is viewed as Arsenal’s replacement for Jakub Kiwior ahead of his proposed move to Porto.

Hincapie previously admitted that his brother had compared him to Spurs defender Romero, though the Ecuador international attempted to model his game on other top stars. Here is a closer look at Hincapie’s career so far.

Early years and move to Bayer Leverkusen

Hincapie left home as a 10-year-old to pursue his football career, attending his club CS Norte America’s boarding school in Guayaquil. He later joined Independiente del Valle, where he won the U20 Copa Libertadores and made three first team appearances before earning a move to Argentinian side Talleres.

He featured on 22 occasions for Talleres during his sole year in Argentina. Hincapie subsequently made his Ecuador debut during the 2021 Copa America, with his performances capturing Leverkusen’s attention.

Hincapie, who can operate at centre-back and left-back, has played 166 games for the German side. He made 26 league appearances as Leverkusen won their first-ever Bundesliga title in 2024, as well as helping the club win the DFB-Pokal and reach the Europa League final.

Cristian Romero comparison and role models

It is easy to understand why Hincapie’s brother drew parallels between his sibling and Spurs defender Romero, who has developed a reputation for his ill-discipline. Since arriving in Germany four years ago, Hincapie has been suspended on 10 occasions, picking up nine yellows and one red card across 45 games last term.

Spurs star Romero was once branded “absolutely mad” by Gary Neville after being booked for a reckless challenge on Callum Wilson during a win over Newcastle in December 2023. "He's mad, him, honestly," Neville told Sky Sports. "Absolutely mad. I think it's a red card at first look. He's crazy, Romero. He always has to tackle. Slowing players down doesn't come into his head."

However, two other players were Hincapie’s role models. During his early years in Ecuador, he studied videos of Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos and Barcelona legend Carles Puyol.

"I watched the videos so I wouldn't get bored on the bus, and that's when I realised that I really liked Puyol,” Hincapie told Scouted Football, as reported by Bundesliga.com. “He had a special way of playing, perhaps less technical than Ramos, but he was a leader and captain. One of the best centre-backs I've ever seen."

Piero Hincapie’s family values

Hincapie has stressed the importance of his family, who provided guidance as he moved from Ecuador to Argentina. He then weighed up his decision to join Leverkusen amid interest from several clubs, with his eldest brother also joining him in Germany.

"I had different offers from Europe and I considered them all carefully. I spoke to my family, to myself, to God – and I opted for Bayer 04,” Hincapie explained to Leverkusen’s club website. “I have great respect for the country and the language and my family had always emphasised that a lot of Latinos play here – and some of them for many years. That was an important reason. Because if they stay here for a long time then they must feel at home."

The defender has previously praised his parents for his and his siblings’ upbringing. However, Hincapie quickly recognised the financial responsibility that came with being a top-flight footballer.

"I'm suddenly earning much more money for our circumstances,” Hincapie admitted. “That's not so important to me because I just want to play football. But now I have the chance to help my family.

“Of course, I allow myself something as well but the most important thing for me is to be able to give something back to my parents and everybody else and that I can ensure that they have a comfortable life. My nanna's income isn't enough to live on. When everybody is looked after then I can also allow myself a couple of expensive things.”

Defender Matt Doherty joined Atletico Madrid from Tottenham in 2023, but the north London side didn't receive any fee for the Irishman, as a little-known FIFA rule saw his contract terminated

Tottenham hoped to loan defender Matt Doherty to Atletico Madrid on deadline day two years ago, but a FIFA rule meant his contract had to be terminated. The Irishman cost Spurs £14.7million when they signed him from Wolves in 2020.

Doherty, who thrived at Molineux as a right-sided wingback, was snapped up by Tottenham, then managed by Jose Mourinho, for roughly £15m five years ago and swiftly developed into a moderate squad player.

Three years after he penned his initial Spurs deal, Pedro Porro's imminent arrival from Sporting CP meant the defender was surplus to requirements. After making 71 appearances, scoring three goals and providing nine assists, his days in north London seemed numbered, and Atletico showed an interest.

On January deadline day in 2023, Doherty looked set to make a temporary move to Spain, with no buy-option included, but a FIFA rule threw a spanner in the works. Clubs were only allowed to loan out a maximum of eight senior players. Since this quota had already been filled, Doherty's deal was terminated before signing with Atletico on a free.

In 2022, FIFA announced new regulations that would cap the number of international loans in and out of football clubs. Clubs were limited to eight loan exits, with any club-trained players or players under the age of 21 exempt.

This rule is still in place today. However, the figure has been cut from eight individuals to six, and it still only applies to those who are over 21 or not club-trained.

This new rule scuppered Doherty's prospective move to the Spanish capital, as Spurs had already loaned out Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele, Bryan Gil, Joe Rodon, Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso, Djed Spence, and Destiny Udogie at the time of his planned exit.

To sign for Diego Simone's side, Doherty had to move permanently, and the only solution was to terminate his deal. Antonio Conte's team did just that, and he landed in La Liga on a free.

Doherty's time in Spain was incredibly short. He played just twice for Atletico before becoming a free agent again the following summer. From there, Doherty returned to the Premier League with his former side, Wolves, signing a three-year deal.

The club's former sporting director, Matt Hobbs, stated upon Doherty's return: "We're really happy Matt's back and he's one the manager really wanted when he knew he was available.

"After Spurs and Atletico Madrid, he's hungry to prove himself again, and will add strength in depth to the full-back area, providing competition and making us better in those positions.

"He knows the club and what it means to play here – he's been successful at Wolves before and knows what the fans want," continued Hobbs, who only left the club this summer.

"For us, it's another homegrown player, but one who can share his knowledge and the required standards across the group, so he will be able to slot back in no problem."

Just over three years after his last appearance, Doherty was reintroduced to the Wolves faithful during an EFL Cup tie against Blackpool in August 2023. The 33-year-old remains at Molineux to this day, with his current deal expiring in 2026.

Finally, Xavi Simons has completed his move to the Premier League. But instead of Chelsea, it's Tottenham Hotspur where the Netherlands international has pitched up.

The Dutch star has completed a £52million move to Spurs, signing a five-year deal with the option of a further two years. New Spurs boss Thomas Frank has been keen to sign a new No.10 following the serious injury to James Maddison during the summer. He now has his man, and is suitably delighted.

"I am really pleased we have brought Xavi in - he is a great addition to the squad," says Frank. "He is still young, however he already has good experience and, over the past few years, has played a lot of games at the top level. Xavi has proven his ability to get goals and assists, both from the No.10 position and left-wing. He also has a great eye for his team-mates in terms of unlocking defences, and I know he will come in and be part of a good team that is already working hard together."

Spurs' new No.7 said: "I'm really happy and can't wait to get going. I've been dreaming of this for a long time. It's a great club and when I met the head coach I knew straight away that this was the right place for me.

"I will bring flair to the team but also hard work and discipline. I want to do everything I can to win, for the team and also for the fans."

Spurs have started the season with back-to-back Premier League wins to give ex-Brentford boss Frank the ideal start to the new campaign, but injuries have caused problems with Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both out. Eberechi Eze had been targeted, but ultimately moved to Arsenal instead after the Morgan Gibbs-White affair which left the club ultimately looking foolish.

For much of the summer, Simons, admired by the club's new coaching staff and the transfer hierarchy, had appeared out of reach. He wanted to leave RBL but Chelsea were in pole position. However, the Blues have been chasing both he and Alejandro Garnacho, with the Manchester United outcast now heading to Stamford Bridge after an initial £40m deal was agreed between the two clubs.

A medical was undertaken on Thursday, with Spurs operating cautiously so as not to stir interest from other rivals, and on Friday the deal was sealed.

Xavi Simons has been linked with Chelsea for weeks but Tottenham have now secured a deal for the RB Leipzig star with the two London sides long involved in transfer battles

Tottenham may have looked a laughing stock when London rivals Arsenal swooped in to land Eberechi Eze. Now it is Tottenham themselves doing the swooping at Chelsea's expense.

Xavi Simons has been tipped to leave RB Leizpig all summer and it appeared as though he was destined to end up at Stamford Bridge. But whilst the Blues dilly dallied Tottenham have made a late play and look to have secured the Dutchman.

Simons has been one of the most impressive performers for the German side following his move to Leipzig from PSG. Now Tottenham look like they will bolster their ranks by landing the 22-year-old for £51million.

He will bolster a frontline that has also had Mohamed Kudus added to it. Chelsea have managed to agree a deal for Alejandro Garnacho, who is on course to join from Manchester United for £40m.

But whilst they were negotiating for a deal to land the Argentine, Tottenham have been able to steal a march and sign Simons, who stands to sign a deal with them until 2030. There had been no long-term indication that those in north London were even tracking the Dutchman.

But after they missed out on Eze, they have acted fast to land a suitable replacement. Simons scored an stunning goal against England in the semi-final of the Euros last summer and has posted some impressive stats whilst in Germany over the past two years, scoring 22 goals and providing 24 assists in 78 games across all competitions.

His age profile and exploits thus far have all the makings of a player who will continue to blossom. Chelsea may live to regret missing out on Simons and so often it has been Tottenham left to wonder how they missed out on a key target. Luis Diaz's late move to Liverpool in 2022 a case in point.

That trend can be dated back to 2013, when Tottenham spent all summer trying to bring Willian to the Premier League. Only for the Brazilian to join Chelsea late in the day, going on to win the Premier League twice across his seven year stint.

On that occasion Tottenham were left fuming that they missed out. Then Blues boss Jose Mourinho made little attempt to hide his delight at hijacking the move after securing the £32m capture of the Anzhi Makhachkala forward.

It owed to then owner Roman Abramovich making a personal call to his fellow Russian oligarch, Suleyman Kerimov, the Anzhi owner. Tottenham had gone as far as to complete Willian's medical, but Mourinho would claim they paid the price for not doing the medical "in secret".

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was adamant that Chelsea did not truly want Willian. Instead their motive was to stop the north Londoners landing a player who would make them stronger.

Andre Villas-Boas, formerly a manager at Stamford Bridge, was looking to create a squad that could challenge Chelsea. The Blues though always maintained they had an interest in Willian and he would go on to be a massive hit and remain a key figure under numerous different managers.

Chelsea and Tottenham have never - and will never - be the best of friends but whilst the Blues won a bitter race for Willian, Tottenham in time may boast they've got their revenge after all.

Tottenham are working to wrap up the arrival of RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons, who has been on Chelsea's attacking shortlist

Tottenham are on the verge of wrapping up the signing of RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons following a secret transfer blitz. The 22-year-old Dutchman, who has looked poised to join Chelsea all summer, has already completed his Spurs medical.

Pending final details, he will sign a long-term contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and finally end Thomas Frank's thirst for a new No.10 after missing out on both Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze.

The Europa League winners are expected to pay around £52million (€60m), though sources at Leipzig are briefing the Bundesliga outfit have also negotiated a sell-on clause.

Spurs have been operating with caution in fear Chelsea would pounce and pip them to Simons' signature as the former Paris Saint-Germain and PSV starlet had already agreed terms with the Blues.

Just a matter of weeks ago, Tottenham are understood to have made a check on Simons' situation via his brother and advisor Faustino but they were told the starlet had already given Chelsea his word.

The turning point came earlier this week when Simons seemingly decided he was not prepared to wait around forever. Enzo Maresca's side also opened talks over a potential swoop for Barcelona's Fermin Lopez, indicating they were also considering a move for the Spaniard and Alejandro Garnacho.

Simons' playing time was likely to be limited at Stamford Bridge while at Tottenham, he is expected to receive assurances of a starting berth at the heart of Frank's new-look frontline.

As of yesterday evening, Chelsea were still deciding whether they were going to bid for the Netherlands international attacking midfielder.

In the meantime, the Blues were also putting plans in place for United winger Garnacho to undergo his medical after striking a £40m deal with the Red Devils which also includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause.

Tottenham are not yet ruling out signing a second forward before Monday's transfer deadline.

The current priority is ensuring they get Simons over the line to avoid any further embarrassment and if all goes to plan, Simons could be in attendance for Saturday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth.

It's unlikely he will be registered in time to face the Cherries - there is a 12pm deadline - given he has not even trained with his new team-mates anyway.

Completion of the deal would represent a major boost for Spurs, who are mindful that Dejan Kulusevski is not scheduled to return imminently following patella surgery.

RB Leipzig have given Xavi Simons permission to travel to London for transfer discussions with both Tottenham and Chelsea, who have long been leading the race for the Dutch attacker

Tottenham are going head-to-head with Chelsea for Xavi Simons after RB Leipzig gave the Dutch attacker permission to fly to London for face-to-face discussions over his future. Simons has been holding out for a move to Stamford Bridge after verbally agreeing personal terms with the Blues earlier this summer.

However, Chelsea have been focused on player sales and making room within Enzo Maresca's squad which has seemingly provided Spurs with a window of opportunity.

Having missed out on both Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, Tottenham are only likely to submit a formal bid if they receive encouragement from Simons that he wants to move to N17 to avoid facing further transfer embarrassment.

Crucially, Chelsea have now agreed to sell Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan for an initial £32.85million plus a further £4.3m in bonuses which is expected to accelerate their plans to bring in further attacking reinforcements.

A move for Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho remains advanced and a case of when - not if - as the Argentine has already snubbed multiple approaches from the Premier League, Bayern Munich and Saudi Arabia to prioritise a switch to the newly-crowned world champions.

Barcelona's Fermin Lopez has also emerged as a serious target following initial conversations with the 22-year-old Spain international but any deal would likely be at the expense of signing Simons.

Super-agent Ali Barat is handling Simons' future alongside the Dutchman's brother and advisor Faustino Simons. Barat, in particular, has strong connections at Chelsea and was recently spotted in the director's box for their friendly win over Bayer Leverkusen.

He was also involved in the deal that saw the Blues sell Noni Madueke to Arsenal and additionally, has been involved in the process of finding wantaway striker Nicolas Jackson a new club.

German sources have intimated that Simons has been in London since Wednesday and additionally, it's believed Leipzig are yet to have received any formal offers despite suggestions Spurs have tabled a bid.

When Spurs made checks on Simons just a matter of weeks ago, they were told he was focused on sealing a move to Chelsea but in the past few days, there appears to have been some fluidity in his situation as he wants to leave Leipzig before Monday's deadline and try a new experience in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have also held initial discussions with the representatives of West Ham attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who is viewed as a potential alternative to Simons.

Spurs are yet to rule out making two marquee additions to their frontline before Monday's deadline and they would also consider strengthening their central defensive options if the right opportunity arose after allowing Luka Vuskovic to join Hamburg on loan. For now, attacking reinforcements remain the absolute priority.

West Ham remain cautiously optimistic they will keep hold of the Brazilian as the prospect of selling a second star player - after Mohammed Kudus - to a direct rival in Spurs seems incomprehensible given the current state of affairs at the London Stadium.

A sizeable offer would seriously test that stance, however, particularly after the Hammers wrapped up a £42m deal with Southampton for Mateus Fernandes. Graham Potter's side value Paqueta at around £60m and his agents remain in contact with Spurs.

Thomas Frank's side had also held strong interest in Manchester City attacker Savinho but a move was blocked by the Etihad Stadium hierarchy even though Tottenham were prepared to put big money on the table.

A swoop for France U21 international starlet Maghnes Akliouche also looks difficult as his current employers Monaco are already in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over the possible sale of fellow forward Eliesse Ben Seghir.

Leipzig want to sign Harvey Elliott if they agree a deal to sell Simons but Liverpool are already light on the ground where attacking numbers are concerned.

Ian Wright has given an insight into what Eberechi Eze returning to boyhood club Arsenal meant to his family after the Gunners hijacked Tottenham's attempt to sign the forward

Ian Wright has revealed how close Eberechi Eze was to joining Tottenham and the role his family played in his eventual move to Arsenal. Eze has become the Gunners' seventh signing of the summer, taking their spending spree to £250m.

North London rivals Spurs had been set to capture Eze after they reached an agreement with Crystal Palace last week. However, the Gunners ruthlessly swept in after Kai Havertz suffered a knee injury in the opening-weekend victory at Manchester United.

Given that Eze is a former Arsenal youngster and a Gunners supporter, his head was turned. A four-year deal was soon agreed before he was formally presented to fans ahead of Saturday’s 5-0 win over Leeds United.

Wright has said his family believe the injury to Havertz, which paved the way to his dream move, was a gift from God. The Arsenal legend told the Stick to Football show: “It [Eze to Spurs] was done. He’s very God fearing.

"I know a lot of people will turn round and go, ‘Here we go,’ but they genuinely believe it’s happened because it’s meant to happen. That’s why, when he walked out of the tunnel, he could feel it, he couldn’t believe it had happened.”

On what signing for Arsenal meant to Eze and his family, Wright said: “The whole family are Arsenal. You can imagine what his family are going through, [thinking] ‘He’s going to playing for Tottenham.’

“The pure happiness and joy of him being there [at Arsenal], you just feel like it’s going to work out for him. I want it to work out for him simply for that reason.

“It’s where he wants to be. It’s very rare you get where you want to be at the level he’s at. He got thrown out of there [Arsenal] at 13 and came back.”

Following Eze’s emotional introduction and the win over Leeds, Mikel Arteta addressed the breakneck speed of the transfer. He said: “It was one of the fastest transfers, I would say. And one of the most unexpected. But it showed an incredible determination.

“I was getting no news today on the phone so I thought it wasn’t happening. But at the last minute, again, they managed to pull it off. It created some flames, some fire in the stadium, and that was great to witness. He has the capacity to create magic moments.”

Eze addressed his faith when being interviewed by Wright for the Gunners' media channels. He said: “I can only thank God for the opportunity to be here, to be playing. To be recognised in this type of manner is what I wanted to do. I feel so blessed.”