Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld has joined Tottenham from Atletico Madrid, signing a contract with the English club until 2020 for an undisclosed fee.
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Belgium global Alderweireld spent last season in the Premier League on loan with Southampton, and he had been linked with a permanent move to St Mary’s, but will instead be plying his trade at White Hart Lane.
He will now link up with a few familiar faces like Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli and Christian Eriksen, whom he knows both from the Belgian national team and ex- club, Ajax.
“Southampton signed an option to the player and Atletico Madrid is trying to pay back the option”.
“I’m very proud to become a Spurs player”, Alderweireld told Tottenham’s website. I’m happy to be here & hope to have a wonderful time with this team.
The Saints reacted angrily on Monday to news of the potential switch, insisting they had had a pre-arranged deal with Atletico to sign Alderweireld for £6.8million.
Alderweireld is Spurs’ third signing of the summer following deals for defenders Kevin Wimmer from Cologne and Kieran Trippier for £3.5m from Burnley.
He said: ” “From the beginning I knew a lot about the club from Jan Vertonghen, Mousa and Nacer””.
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Toby Alderweireld has revealed that Tottenham’s existing core of Belgian players played a key part in his decision to join the club. “Now that dream is coming true so I’m very happy, very proud and I will give my best”.
