Tottenham Hotspur

Live Coverage: Man City vs Spurs  Tottenham Hotspur

Dates, venues and kick-off times have now been confirmed for our Under-21s’ group stage matches in this season’s Vertu Trophy.

As previously reported, we’ve been drawn in Southern Group B of the competition, which gives young players a chance to test themselves competitively against senior EFL sides.

Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town and Plymouth Argyle will be our opponents – all away from home.

Our games will take place on the following dates, with tickets available via the host clubs...

Tottenham Hotspur – 2025/26 Vertu Trophy group stage fixture list

Tue 26 Aug – Bristol Rovers (A) – 7pm – The Memorial Stadium

Tue 23 Sep* – Plymouth Argyle (A) – 7pm – Home Park

Tue 28 Oct* – Cheltenham Town (A) – 7pm – EV Charger Points Stadium

*Subject to change should our opponents progress in the Carabao Cup

Djed Spence’s journey from out-of-the-picture to outstanding performer has been remarkable.

A hard-working London boy with a dream of playing at the top level, he never lost sight of his goals and persevered through adversity to realise his ambitions.

Some of the challenges he’s faced in his young career so far, many players do not come back from.

But to his utmost credit, he overcame everything he encountered, enjoyed what in his own words was a “breakthrough season” last term where he became a firm favourite in N17 and this week inked a new, long-term contract with the club as he looks to kick on again in 2025/26.

Taking a quiet moment to reflect on his storied journey to date, Djed told us how empowering the Spurs faithful – along with his family – has been during his rise to the top.

“It’s a good feeling when you hear the fans supporting you and I just want to repay them with good performances and by winning games,” he said. “It makes me feel good. It makes you feel unstoppable. When they get behind us, get behind the team, it’s like... I can’t really explain it, it’s just amazing. Without the fans, it would be very hard to get where you want to get to.

“Friends and family, too – they’re important. You need to have a strong team around you and my family is definitely one of those. Probably a lot of fans know them as well, they come to a lot of the games and they show me so much support. I think that’s really vital and I’m very grateful.”

Released by Fulham as a teenager, Djed moved to the north-east in 2018 to reinvent himself and his career with Middlesbrough. After emerging onto the senior stage at the Riverside, he shone on loan at Nottingham Forest in 2021/22, winning numerous individual plaudits as he helped them to promotion to the Premier League. A dream move here to Spurs followed that summer, continuing his upward trajectory and landing him that top-flight chance he'd craved since childhood.

However, after a cameo debut against his old club at the City Ground in the opening weeks of 2022/23, Djed made only six substitute appearances in his first two years in north London and was loaned out to Stade Rennais in France, Leeds United and then Italian side Genoa as he struggled to make an impact here.

“I joined in 2022 at 21 years of age and it was difficult, a rollercoaster ride, but I’ve fought every challenge and been resilient,” he reflected. “Fast forward and I’m here now, I’m playing and I’m happy, so I’m just over the moon with this new contract really. I guess everyone has trials and tribulations but you know, I’m a fighter, so I always work hard, try to do my best and come back from everything. What’s changed from then to now? I’m not sure really. I guess I was just given my chance and I’ve taken it, so that’s the main difference.”

That chance came in the summer of 2024. A solid pre-season campaign saw the former England Under-21 international start afresh and after being reacquainted with the Premier League, a key moment arrived when he scored his first goal for the club – a crucial late strike at Coventry City to keep us in the Carabao Cup last September. From there, he never looked back, shining throughout the winter on both sides of our defensive line and playing his way into our Europa League squad for the knockout phase of the competition. Not registered at the start of the tournament, he played against AZ Alkmaar and Eintracht Frankfurt before coming off the bench to help us over the line in Bilbao. Earlier this month, he started the Super Cup against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and played 90 minutes as we began the new Premier League campaign with victory over Burnley on Saturday.

“It was like a dream come true,” he said, looking back on our Europa League success. “It’s amazing, a European trophy. It’s the stuff you dream of as a kid, so it was very special. Personally, I think it was a great season for myself last year, probably my breakthrough season in the Premier League, you could say. It went really well, I was happy with myself and hopefully this year I can continue like that and get to new heights.”

We asked Djed the simple question; have you changed throughout all of this? After taking a moment to consider his answer, he thoughtfully replied: “I don’t think so. Some people might say I have, but I don’t think so. I think I’ve always been the same. Things might have changed but no, I honestly think I’ve just been the same throughout.

“Saying that, I’ve definitely grown and I’ve learned a lot over the past few years, being in different countries and learning new things. Sometimes it’s hard, travelling a lot and being by yourself but I think you’ve just got to be resilient, fight for your place, treat people right and work hard.

“I always had my family (throughout the loan spells) but they obviously didn’t live out there with me in those countries so I went there alone, although I was surrounded by good people to be fair. When I was in Italy in particular, the club looked after me, I had a few of the boys who looked after me out there straight away so I settled in quite quickly, wherever I was really.

“Even just going back 12 months, I don’t think anything has changed. I feel like I’ve just worked hard, tried to be consistent, tried to put in good performances, listened to my coaches, taken on information and tried to implement it in the games. Wherever I play, left or right, I feel comfortable and I’m happy. It’s good for me and it’s good for the team as well to be versatile. I’m happy with myself, I’m still learning the positions but I’m going to get better day by day, just by training and playing.”

Casting his mind towards the future as we set out on the new campaign, Djed revealed how he’s hit it off with some of the new faces at Hotspur Way this summer: “The new manager, Thomas Frank, he’s been amazing with me to be fair,” the 25-year-old said. “He speaks to me a lot and gives me confidence. I think that is very important for a player. And the new boys as well – I’ve met Mo (Kudus) and he’s probably one of my closest friends here now. I don’t know why, we just kind of clicked. Since he’s come here, we speak a lot and we challenge each other a lot as well, so it’s good. I’m very happy and I just want to keep playing well at a high level.”

Watch | Djed Spence discusses his new contract

We have most wins against Manchester City in Premier League history - as we travel to the Sky Blue half of Manchester again on Saturday (12.30pm), how does our record stack up in City's Etihad era?

We've chalked up 29 wins against City since the first season of the Premier League in 1992/93. Our first Premier League meeting against the Citizens was at their famous old Maine Road stadium, a 1-0 win back on 28 November, 1992, thanks to a Terry Phelan own goal.

If we take into account the full Premier League years - including the final years of City at Maine Road - then we just hold the upper hand in Manchester with 12 wins to City's 11 in 28 matches.

Highlights | City 2-3 Spurs | 2021/22

However, if we're just talking about City at the Etihad (previously City of Manchester Stadium) then City's transformation since 2010 turns the tide around. City moved from Maine Road into what was Manchester's 2002 Commonweath Games stadium for the start of the 2003/04 season.

We started well with five wins in our first seven visits - including that crucial, Champions League qualifying victory in May, 2010 - but then City hit back with five wins on the trot.

It's been tight since then with four wins to City, three draws and three wins to us. There have also been some remarkable matches in recent seasons when the scorelines read 2-3, 4-2, 3-3 and our 0-4 victory last term.

Highlights | City 3-3 Spurs | 2023/24

Saturday’s fine victory over Burnley was our biggest win in a new manager’s first league game in charge for almost 40 years.

Thomas Frank was in the Head Coach role for his first Premier League fixture since his appointment in June as the Clarets visited N17 on the opening day of the new campaign and guided us to a 3-0 win thanks to a superb brace from Richarlison and a strike from Brennan Johnson.

We have to go back to the first day of the 1986/87 campaign before we find a new manager who was able to match that – David Pleat’s first game in charge following his arrival from Luton Town also ending in a 3-0 win as Clive Allen struck a hat-trick against Aston Villa at Villa Park on 23 August 1986.

Of the 21 managers/head coaches we’ve had from Pleat to Frank, 10 have led us to victory in their first league game – for clarification, this doesn’t include caretaker or interim managers.

Following Pleaty’s opening day success, Peter Shreeves was next to win his first league game when we defeated Southampton 3-2 at The Dell on 17 August 1991, Gary Lineker (2) and Gordon Durie on target.

Two years later, Teddy Sheringham scored the only goal of the game at St James’ Park as Ossie Ardiles led us to victory against Newcastle United, while Christian Gross got his reign off to a great start as we travelled to Everton and won 2-0, Ramon Vega and David Ginola netting in November 1997.

A home game against Bradford City marked the start of Glenn Hoddle’s league campaign as manager in April 2001, in which Steffen Ifversen and Simon Davies scored in a 2-1 triumph, however we have to jump all the way to 2013 for the next win on the list. That was from Tim Sherwood, who oversaw a 3-2 success against Southampton at St Mary’s in December that year, Emmanuel Adebayor scoring a brace and Jos Hooiveld with an own goal.

A last-gasp Eric Dier goal gave us a dramatic 1-0 win at West Ham United to kickstart the Spurs career of Mauricio Pochettino in August 2014, and the Hammers were also the first opponents for Jose Mourinho in November 2019, goals from Heung-Min Son, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane giving us a 3-2 win at the London Stadium.

Highlights | West Ham 2-3 Spurs | November, 2019

The last Head Coach to win his first league game before Saturday was Nuno Espirito Santo, who made the dream start with a 1-0 win over Manchester City in N17 thanks to the only goal of the game from Son.

Of course, nothing will ever top the great Bill Nicholson’s first league game in charge of us. Only appointed manager on the morning of Everton’s visit to White Hart Lane on 11 October 1958, Bill led us to an incredible 10-4 victory over the Toffees with Bobby Smith netting four times!

Here’s a list of the first league games in charge for our full-time managers/head coaches since David Pleat in 1986…

David Pleat

Terry Venables

Peter Shreeves

Doug Livermore

Ossie Ardiles

Gerry Francis

Christian Gross

George Graham

Glenn Hoddle

Jacques Santini

Martin Jol

Juande Ramos

Harry Redknapp

Andre Villas-Boas

Tim Sherwood

Mauricio Pochettino

Jose Mourinho

Nuno Espirito Santo

Antonio Conte

Ange Postecoglou

Thomas Frank

The Premier League has announced changes to all three of our fixtures scheduled for October.

Beginning with our trip to newly-promoted Leeds United, this fixture has been provisionally moved to the 12.30pm (UK) slot on Saturday 4 October with the game set to be broadcast live on TNT Sports.

However, if we are scheduled to play a UEFA Champions League match on the preceding Wednesday (1 October), this game will instead kick-off at 8pm (UK) on Saturday 4 October.

Following the October international break, we shall then host Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This match has been moved to Sunday 19 October with kick-off scheduled for 2pm (UK). This game has been selected for live broadcast on Sky Sports.

Our third and final Premier League match of October - a trip to Everton to play at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time - has also been moved. We will now take on the Toffees on Sunday 26 October with kick-off at 4.30pm (UK). This game will also be broadcast on Sky Sports.

Mo Kudus told us he has ‘a lot to improve on, a lot more to show’ after providing the ammunition for two wonderful goals from Richarlison on a Premier League debut to remember against Burnley on Saturday.

That will be music to fans’ ears after the Ghana international thrilled us with his wing play, his crosses dispatched by Richy after 10 and 60 minutes to provide the platform for three points. Brennan Johnson completed the job on 66 minutes in a 3-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“The reception from the fans has been incredible,” he said after his first appearance in Lilywhite in N17. “I really get the boost and the encouragement, even though it's part of my DNA to be in positions like this, but also with the help of the team, because they need to get the ball and get me higher up in those positions.

“But yeah, definitely, the energy from the fans also gave me a boost, even though that's what I love to do, take players on and then try to create and help the team win. I'm glad that Richarlison was able to finish them off today with two beautiful goals. I’m really with the whole team, the three points and the clean sheet.

“I wouldn’t say I was nervous. I think the intrinsic motivation is already inside me to always deliver and do well. That's what I feel before a game, you definitely feel something in your belly, I really want to perform and do my best, but with the help of the team, like I said, they really helped me settle in quite well, but I still have a lot to improve on and a lot more to show. It's just the beginning. It’s a long, long marathon to go.”

Watch Mo's post-match reaction

Asked how he’d settled into life at Spurs, Mo added: “We’ve been all around the place for the pre-season, a lot of travel, so this has been the first couple of weeks that I'm really here. My first game in the stadium was massive, a massive feeling, and I'm really, really happy about that.

“The effort from everyone for the past weeks in pre-season, the travelling, putting in the effort day in, day out, big credit to the whole team. I'm really glad to be in an environment like this with a high level of work and competitiveness to challenge for every trophy.”

Watch Kudus' best moments from his home debut

Richarlison needs your help if he is to be named the Premier League's Player of Matchweek One!

Our Brazilian number nine lit the touch paper on the opening weekend of our domestic season as he scored two stunning goals to help us to a 3-0 win over Burnley.

Having impressed leading the line in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, the forward added goals to his game come the league opener on Saturday - and what a pair of strikes they were.

Hitting a volley 10 minutes in to open our account in the top flight for 2025/26, the forward then followed that up with a spectacular acrobatic effort on the hour mark - an opening-day goal that is certainly going to be a contender for Goal of the Season!

Watch Richy's sensational strikes

With two stunners in the bag against the Lancashire side, Richy has been shortlisted for a new Premier League initiative that pays tribute to the player who produced the best performance in each matchweek.

For the title, the forward is up against eight other players - Sunderland's Dan Ballard, Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike, Arsenal's David Raya, AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood and Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Tijjani Reijnders

To be named Player of Matchweek One, Richarlison is relying on your help as it is fans votes which decide this one - the link to vote is below...

Application deadline

Season Ticket Holders can now apply online or by submitting an application form, which can be obtained from the Ticket Office, no later than 5pm on Monday 25th August.

In the event that tickets are oversubscribed for this match they will be allocated in line with the Club’s ticketing point scheme.

Safe standing

The London Stadium has safe standing in the Upper Tier of the visitors' section. We will contact all successful applicants advising how a seated ticket can be requested.

Digital tickets

For this fixture we will be issuing our allocation as digital tickets.

As for home games, a link will be sent to the assigned supporter via email to download their ticket to their Apple/Google Wallet. This link will be sent to the individual successful Season Ticket Holder and not to the lead applicant.

Any supporter who is successful with their application and who does not have a compatible device will be able to submit a request to receive a paper ticket. This ticket will only be available to collect on the day of the fixture at The London Stadium on production of photographic ID by each individual successful Season Ticket Holder.

Thomas Frank today met with a family supported by the Club’s official charity partner, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, during a heartwarming encounter at our Training Centre.

Our head coach took time out before training on Tuesday to meet with Iliana, an incredibly courageous young fan, as well as her mum and siblings.

Iliana was born with an underlying condition that affects her organs and nervous systems. Largely unaffected for the first seven years of her life, Iliana suddenly suffered an optic nerve glioma in October 2021. Iliana has since gone through several rounds of chemotherapy, during which time she was referred to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. While she still has a fight on her hands, her latest prognosis following the treatment was very positive.

Iliana’s family are passionate Spurs supporters and have been involved in activations the Club has undertaken with the charity, including attending James Maddison’s annual celebrity golf day in 2024, which was dedicated to Noah’s Ark and subsequently raised an incredible £75,000 to support its vital work. Her brother, Nikolas, also walked out with the team as a mascot during a home fixture last season.

A special day for Iliana and her family included watching the first-team train and autograph signing with the players but was topped off by the meeting with our head coach, where they discussed their love of Spurs and the family’s history with Noah’s Ark.

Iliana’s mother, Natasha, said: “We loved meeting Thomas, he was so interested in us and our story and made us feel so welcome. We chatted for a few minutes and he said he wanted us to make the most of our experience at the training ground, which meant a lot to us.

“We have had three amazing experiences with Spurs; Nikolas being a mascot, attending James Maddison’s golf day, and then today – it is just amazing and shows the dedication and strength of relationship between the Club and Noah’s Ark. We are very grateful.”

Thomas Frank said: “It was a real privilege meeting Iliana and her family today and hearing about the amazing work Noah’s Ark does for children, like Iliana, who are going through an incredibly tough time. It is so important that football clubs use their platform to support organisations making such a positive impact in their communities.”

Noah's Ark Children's Hospice has been a proud partner of the Club since 2016. The charity supports babies, children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, and their families, in north and central London, helping them to make the most of every day.