London (AFP) – France midfielder Moussa Sissoko joined Tottenham Hotspur from Newcastle United on a five-year deal on Wednesday after the London club reportedly gazumped Premier League rivals Everton.
Newcastle were reported to have accepted a 30 million pounds ($39.4 million, 35.3 million euros) bid for Sissoko from Everton, only for Spurs to pip them to his signature after matching their offer.
Sissoko, 27, starred for France at Euro 2016 and expressed a desire to leave Newcastle following their relegation from the Premier League last season.
“Hi fans. I’m happy to be here,” Sissoko told Spurs supporters in a video posted on the club’s Twitter page.
“I will give everything for you, for the team, and I hope we will win a lot of games and a lot of titles.”
Sissoko also posted a picture of himself holding a Spurs shirt on his Twitter account, accompanied by the caption: “Very happy to join @SpursOfficial for the next 5 years!”
He had earlier been given permission to leave France’s training camp at Clairefontaine, near Paris, in order to complete his transfer.
Sissoko had been preparing for France’s friendly in Italy on Thursday.
Spurs were initially reported to have had a £16 million offer for Sissoko rejected by Newcastle.
French sports daily L’Equipe reported that Inter Milan and West Bromwich Albion were also in the hunt for the powerful former Toulouse player.
Capped 44 times by France, Sissoko had been with Newcastle since January 2013.
