Bulgarian striker Berbatov agrees Tottenham move
Tottenham have agreed a fee of £10.9million with Bayer Leverkusen
for striker Dimitar Berbatov.
The signing, which was announced on the stock exchange, is subject
to a work permit and if the application is successful will see the
Bulgaria international become a Tottenham player on July 1.
The 25-year-old, who was the second highest scorer in the
Bundesliga in the recently concluded season with 21 goals in 34
games, has agreed personal terms.
Berbatov has also had a prolific international career, scoring 31
goals in 50 senior internationals, and was voted Bulgarian player
of the year in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
He told Tottenham's official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.co.uk:
'Tottenham are a club that are building something special.
'The squad has some terrific young players, an excellent manager
and coaching staff and I am looking forward to playing my
part.'
The striker made his debut for CSKA Sofia as an 18-year-old in the
1998/99 season but he started to make his name in the following
year when he scored 14 goals in 27 league games.
A run of nine goals in 11 games in 2000-01 was enough to persuade
Leverkusen to sign Berbatov in June 2001 and he appeared in the
Champions League final against Real Madrid at the end of that
season.
Berbatov made his international debut at the tender age of 18 in
November 1999 and scored with his first touch in a competitive game
in a World Cup qualifier against Denmark a year later.
In qualification for Euro 2004 Berbatov scored five goals in six
games.
Tottenham sporting director Damien Comolli said: 'There were a
number of clubs interested in signing Dimitar, clubs from France,
Spain and the Premiership.
'We are delighted he has chosen to join us.'
