Udogie, 23, is contracted until 2030 and has been one of Tottenham's more gifted attacking full-backs in recent seasons, but persistent injury problems meant the club had been willing to consider offers rather than rely on a player who could not command a guaranteed starting berth.
De Zerbi has changed that calculation. The manager, who values an aggressive, ball-carrying style of full-back, sees Udogie as a player who fits his system precisely, and has made clear he wants the Italian as part of his squad for the season ahead.
The decision marks a significant change in Udogie's status at the club. He arrived at Spurs with considerable expectation, and this vote of confidence from a new manager who views him as an important part of his plans gives him a platform to reassert himself.
Tottenham are approaching the new season with significant ambitions under De Zerbi after a difficult campaign that saw them fight to retain Premier League status.
The manager's decision to retain Udogie is one of several signals that he is building a squad in his own image, with the Italy international's profile fitting what he expects from his full-backs both offensively and defensively.
For Udogie, the backing represents a crucial shift after what has been an unsettled period. His injury record had placed him in a grey zone at the club — talented enough to attract external interest but unreliable enough to be considered dispensable. De Zerbi's intervention resolves that ambiguity and gives the full-back a clear role to aim for as pre-season approaches.
Tottenham's retention of Udogie also sends a message to other clubs that had been monitoring his situation. The player's contract length makes a move difficult to force in any case, and with the new manager publicly committed to him, any potential suitor faces a closed door for the foreseeable future.