Tottenham Hotspur Football Club News

• Nickname:Spurs
• Founded:1882
• Manager:Harry Redknapp

• Ground:White Hart Lane
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Spurs complete Bale deal

25 May 2007 - 20:57:25

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Tottenham Hotspur have beaten off competition from a number of other Premier League clubs to snap up Southampton's teenage left-back Gareth Bale in a deal that could eventually be worth £10million.

The 17-year-old Wales international moves for an initial fee of £5million, with add-on payments worth the same again.

Bale has scored five goals in 45 games for Saints and is the youngest ever full international for Wales, having won six caps to date.

Spurs sporting director, Damien Comolli, told the club's official website: "We have been following Gareth for a long time now and have been very tenacious, so we are absolutely delighted to get him here.

"He is a player of great quality and, as we always say, our aim in each window is to improve the quality of the squad.

"Gareth has great physical attributes, he is tall, good in the air and has a fantastic left foot. He is very good on set-pieces, he is clever on the ball and his passing selection is excellent.

"He has the ideal combination to become a top, top player and he is only 17."

Bale himself added on the Saints' official club website: "I really want to play in the Premiership. That is very important to me and this is a fantastic opportunity.

"I have thought long and hard about it and feel the time is right to move on.

"I could have gone in January but I wanted to try and help Saints win promotion. I felt I owed them that and I did not want to move mid-season.

"But now the season has finished I have taken stock and decided to move on. It is not about money in any way; this is purely a footballing decision and the chance to play regularly in the Premiership."