Tottenham have confirmed the signing of Lewis Holtby, subject to a medical, with the club pulling off a huge coup in making a deal to take the Germany under 21 international on a free transfer in the summer.

Holtby shunned a new contract with Schalke to look abroad, with Arsenal and Liverpool also believed to be interested in the 22 year old, but Spurs have won the race to secure his signature.

A statement on the Tottenham website read: "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Germany Under-21 captain Lewis Holtby to join the Club in July from Bundesliga side Schalke, subject to a medical."

Lewis Holtby
Lewis Holtby will join up with Tottenham in the summer.

Holtby was billed as one of the bargain buys of the January transfer window, and assistant coach Steffen Freund recently talked up the midfielder, saying he has a lot to offer the side.

"For Lewis it would not be a problem because he is half-English and loves the Premier League," he said before the deal was completed. "I know him, he is the captain of the German Under-21 team and will lead them at the European Championship in Israel next summer.

"He is out of contract at the age of 22. I don't think I have to say any more. I don't know him well but what I can say is that he is a really good player."

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