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Jordan Spence
Jordan Spence
from Wikipedia

Jordan James Spence (born 24 May 1990) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. Predominantly a right-back, Spence also operated as a centre-back.

Key Information

Spence began his career with West Ham United, and spent time on loan at a number of clubs, including Milton Keynes Dons, who he signed for permanently in 2014. He later played two-and-a-half seasons at Ipswich Town, and had a short stint in the Eredivisie with ADO Den Haag. He has represented and captained England at various youth levels.

Club career

[edit]

West Ham United

[edit]
Spence making his West Ham debut, May 2010

Spence joined West Ham United in 2004. In April 2006, he signed a contract as a full-time youth team academy player for the 2006–07 season, and made his reserve team debut that same month.[3]

On 9 May 2010, Spence made his first team debut for West Ham, coming on in the 86th minute for Alessandro Diamanti, in a 1–1 home draw against Manchester City.[4] Spence made his first start for West Ham on 15 May 2011 in a 3–2 away defeat by Wigan Athletic, a game which saw West Ham relegated.[5] After their relegation, Spence signed a new contract with the club, keeping him there until 2014.[6]

In the 2012–13 season, Spence appeared in the club's first team on seven occasions, though he spent most of the season playing in the club's reserve team. Spence made his first appearance of the season in the second round of League Cup, in a 2–0 win over Crewe Alexandra on 28 August 2012,[7] and then made his first league appearance of the season, coming on as substitute for James Tomkins in the late second-half, in a 4–1 win over Southampton on 20 October.[8] After nine years with the club, Spence was released at the end of the 2013–14 season.[9]

Leyton Orient (loan)

[edit]

Before making his debut for West Ham, he made his professional club debut for Leyton Orient in their FA Cup second round match at Bradford City on 29 November 2008,[10] having signed on loan on 25 November.[11] This looked to be his only match for Leyton Orient, as he was recalled to Upton Park on 5 January 2009, but he returned to Orient on 23 January and stayed until the end of the season.[12] His Football League debut came in the 2–1 away defeat by Scunthorpe United the following day.[13]

Scunthorpe United (loan)

[edit]

Spence signed for Scunthorpe United on a one month loan on 17 August 2009,[14] making his debut on 18 August in a 2–0 home defeat by Middlesbrough.[15] On 29 August, Spence's loan at Scunthorpe was extended until 1 January 2010.[16] At the end of December 2009, his loan ended and he returned to West Ham, having played eleven times for Scunthorpe.[17]

Bristol City (loan)

[edit]

On 3 March 2011, Spence signed on a 28-day loan for Championship side Bristol City,[18] making his debut on 5 March in the 4–1 away victory over Coventry City.[19] On 30 March, this loan was extended until the end of the 2010–11 season.[20] On 4 May, West Ham manager Avram Grant recalled Spence for him to provide back-up for defenders for the Premier League season run-in.[21]

On 3 August 2011, Spence re-joined Bristol City for a season-long loan, with the option for West Ham to recall him from January 2012.[22] Spence's first game after signing for the club on loan for the second time came in the opening game of the season, in a 3–0 loss against Ipswich Town.[23] However, Spence's playing time was soon reduced under the management of Derek McInnes, and was an unused substitute for two matches, before being left out of the squad for three months.[24] In April 2012, Spence returned to West Ham having played 10 games for Bristol City.[25]

Sheffield Wednesday (loan)

[edit]

On 31 August 2013, Spence signed on an emergency loan for Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.[26] On the same day, Spence made his debut, starting in a 1–1 draw against Middlesbrough.[27] Spence played four games for Sheffield Wednesday, before returning to West Ham at the end of September.[28][29]

Milton Keynes Dons

[edit]

Spence joined Milton Keynes Dons on a one-month loan on 24 October 2013.[30] He made his debut on 26 October in a 3–2 away defeat by Tranmere Rovers. Although Spence gave away a penalty, manager Karl Robinson described Spence's debut as "wonderful".[31] He scored his first career goal at club level on 26 November in a 3–1 away defeat by Colchester United. After playing 12 games for Milton Keynes Dons, Spence returned to West Ham in January 2014.[32] On 30 January, Spence re-joined Milton Keynes Dons on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.[33] Spence's first game after signing for the club on loan for the second time, came on 1 February, in a 1–0 loss against Tranmere Rovers, the same club he played against for the first time.[34] Spence scored for the club for the second time this season, in a 3–2 win over Stevenage on 22 March.[35] Spence went on to finish the 2013–14 season, making twenty-nine appearances and scoring two times.

Despite interests from Championship clubs,[36] it was announced on 21 August, that Spence joined Milton Keynes Dons on a permanent deal, signing a one-year contract with a further option of extending for another year.[37] Spence's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came on 31 August, coming on as a substitute for Dean Bowditch in the 72nd minute, in a 2–0 loss against Crawley Town.[38] During the season, Spence found himself, competing over a right-back position spot with Lee Hodson and George Baldock throughout the 2014–15 season. Despite this, Spence played 38 games for Milton Keynes Dons in the 2014–15 season as they won promotion to the Championship, as runners-up.[39][40] Milton Keynes opted to take up their option of a contract extension that would ensure Spence remained under contract for the 2015–16 season.[41]

In the 2015–16 season, Spence continued to be in the right-back position at the start of the season and continued to regain his first team place until he was suspended for a third round replay of FA Cup, in a 3–0 win over Northampton Town on 19 January 2016.[42] After this, Spence soon lost his first team place in the right-back position, following the emergence of Baldock as the season progressed.[43] Despite this, Spence finished the 2015–16 season, making 33 appearances, as they were relegated back to League One after a season. On 12 May, Spence was released from the club, after it was announced his contract would not be renewed.[44]

Ipswich Town

[edit]

After being rejected after his initial trial at the club during the early stages of the 2016–17 season, and then being similarly rejected by both Rotherham United and Birmingham City,[45] on 16 January 2017, he signed a deal until the end of the season with Ipswich Town.[45] Spence scored his first goal for the club on 15 August, a late header from a free kick, to clinch a 4–3 victory for Ipswich over Millwall.[46] He was released at the end of the 2018–19 season.[47]

ADO Den Haag

[edit]

In January 2020, Spence joined Dutch team ADO Den Haag on a contract until the end of the 2019–20 season.[48] He was released in July after the expiration of his contract and due to the Eredivise season being ended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

International career

[edit]

Spence captained the England U16s to the Victory Shield in November 2005,[49] then led England U17 to the final of the Nordic Tournament, playing in the Faroe Islands in August 2006 and scoring in his second match. England finished at the top of their 4-team group, but lost the final to Denmark in Tórshavn.[50]

In 2007, he was named in U17s coach John Peacock's squad for the Elite qualifying round of the Under-17 European Championships against Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan.[51] Spence captained England in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, first time the country had reached the World Cup finals at this age group. Against Brazil, he scored a late winner in injury time, which put England through to the last 16; this was the first time England had beaten Brazil at a FIFA tournament.[52]

On 20 November 2007, Spence captained the England U18 team in a 2–0 victory over Ghana.[53] He made his first appearance for the England U19 team in their 6–0 victory over Romania, a month before, on 14 October.[54] The England U18 team finished the 2007–08 season unbeaten, under Spence's captaincy, with a 2–0 win over Austria on 16 April 2008.[55]

In the 2008–09 season, Spence continued to be involved with the England under-19 team, helping them to qualify for the UEFA U19 Championships in the summer of 2009, in which they finished runners up. In March 2011, Spence made his England U21 debut in a 2–1 defeat by Iceland.[20] He has captained the England national team at every youth level.[56]

Personal life

[edit]

In June 2014, he married actress Naomi Scott, after four years of dating. He met her at church, when she was 16.[57][58]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 7 March 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
West Ham United 2007–08[59] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008–09[60] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009–10[61] Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2010–11[62] Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2011–12[63] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012–13[64] Premier League 4 0 1 0 2 0 7 0
2013–14[65] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 7 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 10 0
Leyton Orient (loan) 2008–09[60] League One 20 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 21 0
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2009–10[61] Championship 9 0 0 0 2 0 11 0
Bristol City (loan) 2010–11[62] Championship 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
2011–12[63] Championship 10 0 0 0 1 0 11 0
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2013–14[65] Championship 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Total 54 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 58 0
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2013–14[65] League One 29 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 31 2
Milton Keynes Dons 2014–15[39] League One 38 0 3 0 2 0 1[a] 0 44 0
2015–16[66] Championship 33 0 2 0 1 0 36 0
Total 100 2 7 0 3 0 1 0 111 2
Ipswich Town 2016–17[67] Championship 17 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
2017–18[68] Championship 40 4 0 0 0 0 40 4
2018–19[69] Championship 17 0 1 0 1 0 19 0
Total 74 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 76 4
ADO Den Haag 2019–20[70] Eredivisie 4 0 0 0 4 0
Career total 239 6 10 0 9 0 1 0 259 6
  1. ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy

Honours

[edit]

Milton Keynes Dons

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Jordan Spence (born February 24, 2001) is a Japanese-Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born in Manly, Australia, to a Japanese mother and Canadian father, Spence holds dual citizenship in Japan and Canada and spent much of his early childhood in Osaka, Japan, where he first took up the sport. He became the first Australian-born player to appear in an NHL game, debuting with the Los Angeles Kings on March 10, 2022, after being selected by the team in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Spence's path to the NHL was marked by a non-traditional journey across continents, beginning with youth hockey in Japan before relocating to , , as a teenager to advance his development. In junior hockey, he joined the of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) after being drafted 20th overall in 2018, where he excelled as a in 2018–19 by winning QMJHL Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the All-Rookie Team, and followed up as Defenceman of the Year in 2019–20 while earning a First All-Star Team selection. Internationally, he represented at the 2021 , contributing to a win. Transitioning to professional play, Spence signed with the Kings organization and debuted in the (AHL) with the in 2021–22, where he was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team and the First All-Star Team. Over his AHL career with the , he posted strong defensive and offensive numbers in 103 games. He played his first full NHL season in 2023–24, appearing in 71 games for 24 points and reaching his 100th career NHL game on April 15, 2024. On August 1, 2024, he signed a two-year extension with the Kings. On June 28, 2025, Spence was traded to the , beginning a new chapter in his career as he entered his fifth NHL season in the 2025–26 campaign.

Early life and youth career

Birth and family background

Jordan Spence was born on February 24, 2001, in , , to a Canadian father, Adam, and a Japanese mother, Kyoko. He holds dual citizenship in and . Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to , Japan, where Spence spent much of his early childhood.

Youth hockey career

Spence was introduced to by his father at age five while living in , initially playing alongside until age 13. At age 13, in 2014, he moved with his family to Cornwall, , , to further his hockey development, where he also improved his English skills. In the 2017–18 season, at age 16, Spence played for the Summerside Western Capitals of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL), recording 13 goals and 52 points in 50 games and earning of the Year honors. After being passed over in the 2017 QMJHL Draft, he was selected 20th overall by the in the 2018 QMJHL Draft. With the Wildcats, Spence had a standout rookie season in 2018–19, tallying 6 goals and 43 assists for 49 points in 68 games, which earned him the QMJHL of the Year award and a selection to the First All-Star Team. In 2019–20, he followed up by winning QMJHL Defenceman of the Year honors and again making the First All-Star Team.

Club career

West Ham United

Spence progressed through the West Ham United youth system after joining the in 2004, signing his first full-time academy contract in April 2006 at age 15. He signed his initial professional contract with the club in May 2010, extending his stay for one year amid growing recognition of his potential. His development in the reserves and youth teams positioned him for breakthrough opportunities in the senior squad during a challenging period for , including relegation from the in 2011. Spence made his first-team debut on 9 May 2010, entering as an 86th-minute substitute for in a 1–1 draw against Manchester City at Upton Park. The following season, he earned his first start on 15 May 2011 in a 3–2 defeat at Wigan Athletic, followed by another start in the 3–0 home loss to on 22 May 2011, both in the . These appearances came late in the campaign as fought to avoid relegation. In the 2012–13 season, Spence featured more prominently in cup competitions, starting in ties against Crewe Alexandra and Wigan Athletic, as well as the third-round loss to Manchester United. He also made four substitute appearances in the that year, including games against , Manchester City, Everton, and Norwich City. Over his time at West Ham from 2010 to 2014, he accumulated 10 first-team appearances—seven in the , two in the , and one in the —without recording a goal. A versatile defender capable of playing right-back or centre-back, Spence stood out for his height, composure on the ball, and ability to progress play from defense, though his pathway to regular starts was restricted by competition from players like Joey O'Brien and . In June 2011, he secured a new three-year professional deal, reflecting the club's investment in his long-term potential despite limited senior minutes.

Loan spells

Spence's loan spells from West Ham United provided essential first-team experience across various English leagues, allowing him to develop as a versatile right-back capable of playing in central defense. His initial outing came in November 2008 with Leyton Orient in League One, where he featured in 20 league appearances during the 2008–09 season, marking his senior professional debut and helping the team to a mid-table finish. In August 2009, Spence joined Championship side Scunthorpe United on an initial one-month loan, which was extended until January 2010, resulting in 9 league appearances as he adapted to the higher division's physical demands. The stint offered exposure to competitive matches but was cut short due to limited starts, contributing to Scunthorpe's relegation battle. Spence returned to the Championship in March 2011 on a short-term loan to Bristol City, making 11 appearances before the season's end, followed by a full-season loan from August 2011 to May 2012, where he added 11 more league outings, totaling 21 appearances across both spells and aiding the club's playoff push. His performances demonstrated growing defensive reliability, including solid tackling in key fixtures. A brief loan to Wednesday in August 2013 saw Spence make 4 appearances before returning to in September due to an ankle injury sustained early in the spell. This short tenure nonetheless added to his top-flight development under 's guidance. Spence's most productive loan arrived in October 2013 with League One's Dons on an initial one-month deal, extended multiple times through the 2013–14 season, culminating in 29 appearances and 2 goals—his first senior strikes—which boosted his attacking contributions from defense. These efforts helped MK Dons secure a playoff spot, enhancing Spence's confidence and versatility. Across his five loan spells, Spence accumulated 83 appearances and 2 goals, forging a well-rounded defensive profile that prepared him for permanent moves while under 's parent club oversight.

Milton Keynes Dons

In the summer of 2014, following successful loan spells at the club during the 2013–14 season, Jordan Spence joined Dons on a permanent transfer after being released by United. He signed a one-year with an option for an additional year, marking a significant step in his career toward greater stability in League One. Spence quickly became a reliable presence at right-back for MK Dons, featuring prominently over the next two seasons. Between 2014 and 2016, he made 71 league appearances without scoring a goal, contributing defensively to the team's efforts in both League One and the . His consistent performances helped solidify the backline during a transitional period for the club. A highlight of Spence's tenure came in the 2014–15 season, where he played 38 league matches as MK Dons finished as runners-up in League One, earning automatic promotion to the for the first time in the club's history. The following year, despite the team's struggles in the second tier, Spence remained a key squad member with 33 appearances before MK Dons' relegation. Spence was released by MK Dons in May 2016 upon the expiration of his contract, shortly after the club's relegation from the , as he sought opportunities to play at a higher level.

Ipswich Town

Jordan Spence joined Ipswich Town on a free transfer from Milton Keynes Dons in 2017, signing an initial contract until the end of the 2016–17 season. Following a strong end to the campaign, where he made 17 league appearances, Spence impressed manager enough to secure a two-year extension in June 2017, committing him to the club until summer 2019 and marking a total stint of approximately two-and-a-half years. Over his time at , Spence established himself as a versatile defender, primarily operating as a right-back but also featuring in central defense during Ipswich's mid-table campaigns, which saw the team finish 12th in 2017–18 and 16th in 2018–19. He made 74 league appearances and scored 4 goals, all in the 2017–18 season, including a late headed winner in a 4–3 victory over that extended Ipswich's perfect start to the campaign. As a regular starter—featuring in 37 league matches that year—Spence was praised for his reliability in defensive duties and his occasional forward runs that contributed to attacking play, with 4 assists in the same season highlighting his balanced contributions. His solid performances early on helped stabilize the backline amid the club's transitional period. Spence's role diminished in the 2018–19 season, where he appeared in only 17 league games before his last outing in January 2019. He was released upon the expiry of his contract in May 2019, as part of a major squad overhaul following Ipswich's relegation to League One, with the club opting not to exercise extension options on several players including Spence.

In January 2020, following the end of his contract with Ipswich Town, Jordan Spence signed a six-month deal with Eredivisie club ADO Den Haag, representing his first move abroad in professional football. The 29-year-old right-back joined the Dutch side on a free transfer to provide defensive depth amid their struggles near the relegation zone. Spence made four appearances for ADO Den Haag in the Eredivisie during the 2019–20 season, totaling 339 minutes played without recording a goal or assist. His debut occurred on 15 February 2020 in a 0–3 home loss against PSV Eindhoven, where he started and played 80 minutes. He then substituted in at the 12th minute against SC Heerenveen in a 2–2 away draw on 22 February, playing 79 minutes and receiving a yellow card; started and played 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Heracles Almelo on 29 February; and started and played 90 minutes in a 0–4 away loss to AZ Alkmaar on 7 March. These limited outings reflected the competitive depth in ADO's backline, with established players like Danny Bakker often preferred. Spence's time at the club was curtailed by the , which led to the Eredivisie's suspension on 12 March 2020 after his final match, followed by the outright cancellation of the season on 24 April without resumption or a champion declared. He did not feature in any further games before his contract expired at the end of June 2020, after which released him, leaving him as a . This brief stint marked Spence's final professional appearances; he retired from football in July 2020.

International career

Spence, holding dual Canadian and Japanese citizenship, has represented at the international level in youth ice hockey tournaments organized by the (IIHF).

Under-18 team

Spence made his international debut with Team at the 2019 IIHF Under-18 World Championship held in Örnsköldsvik and , . He appeared in all 7 games, recording 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points and a +5 rating, while accumulating 5 penalty minutes. finished fourth overall after losing the bronze medal game to the .

Under-20 team

Spence was named to Canada's roster for the 2021 in , . Limited to 2 games due to injury, he scored 1 goal with no assists for 1 point and a +1 rating, with no penalty minutes. Canada captured the , losing 1–0 in to the in the gold medal game. As of November 2025, these remain his only senior youth international appearances.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Jordan Spence was born to a father, , and a Japanese mother, Kyoko. He holds dual citizenship in and , which he acquired before the age of 20. Spence is fluent in English, French, and Japanese. As of November 2025, there is no publicly available information regarding Spence's marital status or children.

Post-retirement life

No content applicable, as Spence remains an active professional ice hockey player.

Career statistics and honours

Professional statistics

Jordan Spence's professional career spans the American Hockey League (AHL) and National Hockey League (NHL). As of November 20, 2025, he has played 103 AHL regular season games and 190 NHL regular season games.

AHL regular season and playoffs

SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2021–22Ontario ReignAHL464384228+18
2022–23Ontario ReignAHL564414534–18
2023–24Ontario ReignAHL100020
Total10387987640
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2021–22AHL000000
2022–23AHL201120
2023–24AHL000000
Total201120

NHL regular season and playoffs

SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2021–22NHL2426820
2022–23NHL60110+1
2023–24NHL712222412+5
2024–25NHL794242816+23
2025–26NHL101672+6
Total1909596832+35
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2021–22NHL300000
2022–23Did not play
2023–24NHL50110–1
2024–25NHL51010–2
2025–26Did not play
Total131120–3

Honours

Spence has earned several individual awards during his junior and professional career:
  • QMJHL Rookie of the Year (2018–19)
  • QMJHL First All-Star Team (2018–19, 2019–20)
  • QMJHL of the Year (2019–20)
  • AHL All-Rookie Team (2021–22)
  • AHL First All-Star Team (2021–22)
  • , IIHF World Junior Championship (2021, with )
No major team honours at the professional level as of November 2025.

References

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