Tottenham have completed the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart for £8 million after the Premier League gave them the all clear to add the Holland international to their squad.
Spurs had been left waiting due to technical difficulties which had delayed their efforts in submitting the required paperwork before the 6pm transfer deadline.
The Premier League today released a statement declaring that the deal for the 28-year-old can now be completed. "The Premier League can confirm the transfer of Rafael van der Vaart's registration from Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur."
It had looked as thought the only piece of business manager Harry Redknapp had managed to secure was the transfer of goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa. However, the former West Ham boss revealed he had been made aware of Van der Vaart's availability just two hours before the deadline.
"It was a last-minute job. I think he was going to Bayern Munich on Monday for £18m and suddenly he became much cheaper," Redkanpp declared on Tuesday.
"They let me know around 4pm (1600 BST) that he was available for £8m and, for that money, he is a top player who will definitely improve us. The fee has come crashing down because the deadline is so close."
Van der Vaart helped Holland make the final of the World Cup and has plenty of experience in European competition through his time spent at Ajax and Hamburg.
With 16 international goals to his name and a reputation as playmaker, Redkanpp has brought in some valuable experience to a Spurs side which is trying to combine a Premiership campaign with a successful Champions League debut.
