Holtby to join Tottenham from Schalke in July

Jan 4, 2013 4:07:00 PM

The 22-year-old midfielder will join the club at the end of the season after previously indicating his preference for a move to White Hart Lane over other suitors Liverpool

By Greg Stobart

Tottenham have confirmed that Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby will join the club at the end of the season.

Goal.com exclusively revealed on Friday that the 22-year-old favoured a move to Tottenham ahead of Liverpool, who have also been pursuing his signature for a number of months.

The 22-year-old midfielder had also previously been tracked by Arsenal, but Spurs have now revealed that the Germany under-21 captain will sign for the north London outfit in July, subject to a medical.

Spurs concluded the deal on Friday after sending representatives Qatar, where the Schalke squad are currently taking part in a warm weather training camp. Holtby had publicly declared his intention to leave the Veltins-Arena at the end of his contract in the summer and has been eager for a move to the Premier League.

The player's desire for regular football and to play in European competition - Spurs are third in the Premier League as they target a top four finish - are believed to be the key factors in his decision.

Holtby's move will see him leave Germany for the first time after spells with Alemannia Aachen, Bochum and Mainz before moving to Schalke in the summer of 2009.

Schalke had been desperate to keep Holtby beyond the end of the season but the creative midfielder declined to follow striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in committing his future to the club.

Spurs will press ahead with their attempts to sign Joao Moutinho from Porto this month but Holtby provides a quality long-term midfield option for manager Andre Villas-Boas, and becomes the Londoners' second signing of the month after former Manchester United defender Zeki Fryers arrived from Standard Liege on Thursday.

Holtby, who has an English father and is a lifelong Everton supporter, has made 75 appearances in all competitions for Schalke and has scored 11 times for the club, while he has also earned three caps for the senior German national side.

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Arsenal hold their nerve in top-four battle
Arsene Wenger's side produced a clinical performance to secure a top-four Premier League finish but now they must kick on if they wish to challenge for honours next year
Player Ratings: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
Laurent Koscielny's 52nd-minute volley secured the Gunners the win over Alan Pardew's side and made sure they would be playing Champions League football next season
Player Ratings: West Brom 5-5 Man Utd
Sir Alex Ferguson was given a farewell to remember, but certainly not for the right reasons as the Romelu Lukaku-led hosts battled back from three goals down to earn an unlikely point
Player Ratings: Tottenham 1-0 Sunderland
A sensational strike from star attacker Gareth Bale as ultimately not enough as Spurs miss out on a place in next season's Champions League by one point to arch-rivals Arsenal
Player Ratings: Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Fernando Torres proves the match winner for the hosts as Rafael Benitez sees out his Blues managerial tenure with exciting and narrow victory over David Moyes' side