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Jan Vertonghen completes Tottenham move from Ajax

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments144

Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen

Tottenham Hotspur have signed defender Jan Vertonghen from Ajax after he completed the formalities of his move.

Belgium international Vertonghen, 25, becomes new manager Andre Villas-Boas's second signing after Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Tottenham have refused to disclose how much they have agreed to pay for Vertonghen, who had a year left on his contract in Amsterdam.

They had seen two bids rejected as Ajax wanted £12m for the centre-half who made 220 appearances for Ajax.

A Tottenham statement read:external-link "We are delighted to announce that Jan Vertonghen has completed his transfer from Ajax after successfully passing his medical."

The 2011-12 Dutch player of the year will offer Villas-Boas more defensive options with Ledley King's future still uncertain and Ryan Nelsen having moved to QPR.

Spurs had been tracking the Belgium defender, who captained Ajax to their second successive Eredivisie title last season, for some time.

He scored 10 times in 37 games for Ajax last season and was named their player of the year.

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144 comments

  • Comment posted by AnotherRobinson, at 16:53 8 Jul 2012

    Siggurs, now Vertonghen, AVB is building a squad that can challenge domestically and internationally, also the Europa League will be a realistic target this season round, as opposed to 'Arrys apparent nonchalance attitude towards the competition.

  • Comment posted by U14980039, at 19:16 8 Jul 2012

    @22
    "remind me what England won in the 70s and 80s when there were hardly any foreigners player in the league"

    At that time the best English teams were dominated by Scots & Irish players. Dalglish, Souness, Hanson, Brady, Strachan, Bremner, O'Neill, Lawrenson, Jordon & Whiteside to name but ten - but I could name another 100 non-English players from that era.

  • Comment posted by a-brit-in-mexico, at 18:52 8 Jul 2012

    How the hell are England ever going to be any good if these clubs keep signing foreign players???

    Right! please remind me what England won in the 70s and 80s when there were hardly any foreigners player in the league.

  • Comment posted by tomgreat1990, at 18:40 8 Jul 2012

    Don't know what planet lex is living on...Vertonghen is a brilliant defender, and was named player of the year in the Eredivise. I think he'll be a great addition to Spurs and the Premier League, and the best of luck to him. I'm guessing lex is either an Arsenal fan or hasn't seen Jan play enough.

  • Comment posted by U14457454, at 17:43 8 Jul 2012

    Just a quick one as a spurs fan.. I know we all want a striker llorente etc but what about Harry Kane? He looks like a hell of a player and the only way to get better is with experience. Kane, Caulker and Livermore all look like great prospects. Agree? Disagree?

  • Comment posted by nicknack1, at 15:40 9 Jul 2012

    So the Chairman buys the players for spurs now?? That's always a good sign, how many millions are tottenham going to spend to try and keep up with Arsenal this season??

    At least modric, bale, VDV and co haven't started looking elsewhere after realising they'll be playing plumbers in estonia for the Euro Cup, yet........

  • Comment posted by U15336251, at 12:36 9 Jul 2012

    Promising start for AVB. Both signings have decent pedigrees on paper.

    But are these players guys he rates highly himself or just names left behind on a dossier by HR?

    And does he have his own targets?

    COYS

  • Comment posted by Dave H, at 07:34 9 Jul 2012

    Looks like a young Glen Hoddle .... did this influence the deal?

  • Comment posted by U11856692, at 06:51 9 Jul 2012

    EPL is world famous league. English footballers prefer to play at home. Playing abroad is a huge challenge. Nowadays more and more young Belgian footballers are plying their trade across Europe. One sees them playing in tough competitions in Russia, Turkey, Germany, The Netherlands, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and elsewhere. Such international exposure can do wonders.


    Dr. Cajetan Coelho

  • Comment posted by U14972306, at 03:02 9 Jul 2012

    05. Peter
    10 MINUTES AGO
    so many experts who know jack about anything. Levy may have got a few things wrong, but it will never be a Rangers, because he runs it like a business.

    +++
    Perhaps thats why you haven't won the league in 51 years.

  • Comment posted by U11087367, at 01:29 9 Jul 2012

    Levy will grow restless at the under achievements of AVB. Another job which is too big for him. He maythe season out which is better than he managed under Abr'vic. I can't take AVB seriously. He'sout of his depth, and his body language is all wrong. Levy will wanting Harry back by Christmas. They need a football man and not someone who looks like a software engineer travelling home on the Tube.

  • Comment posted by U14972306, at 01:06 9 Jul 2012

    That Daniel levy has a fantastic track record, backed by former Rangers major shareholder Joe lewis (don't mention the tax man), he has sacked Martin Jol, appointed Juande Ramos, sacked Harry Redknapp ( because they felt they didn't get a return on their investment of £100m over 4 years, peanuts, Citeh spent a billion) and has now appointed precocious AVB.

    Good luck.

  • Comment posted by U15335961, at 00:10 9 Jul 2012

    I am always amazed by some who comment on these things, as a lot of ignorance is shown. But I guess this is just some trying to get a rise out of others.
    As for the topic Vertonghen, looks like a good signing, of course we always have to wait and see as even some of the best players in the premier league need a season or so to settle.
    As for AVB he needs to be given a chance to see what he can do.

  • Comment posted by U14972306, at 23:36 8 Jul 2012

    All these Spurs fans trying to convince themselves AVB is a good manager, hilarious, almost as funny as watching them trying to convince themselves Tottenham are a big club.

  • Comment posted by U15335925, at 23:20 8 Jul 2012

    Belgium s got great players now..but sorry spurs fans vertonghen is ok, not great, just ok, but he will score you some goals. Maybe AVB will get the best out of him, with all the games and different coaches belgium has had, none have so far.

  • Comment posted by U10687242, at 22:05 8 Jul 2012

    So the same Spurs fans furiously attacking anyone who dare suggest Vertonghen is average are now telling Arsenal fans (of whom there don't seem to be any on here anyway!) that a proven international with a fabulous goalscoring record like Podolski will fail. And that the ligue 1 topscorer will also fail... riiiiiiiight....
    I said earlier - u lot never learn... and i'm right. its that simple.

  • Comment posted by Alan, at 21:56 8 Jul 2012

    I think getting rid of Harry was hasty. Replacing him with AVB is a major risk, Be careful what you wish for Levy because your head will be on the block if things deteriorate. I would have thought Moyes would have been a shoe in following the surprising sacking of Harry.

  • Comment posted by DanW86, at 21:45 8 Jul 2012

    I think most people are agreed AVB will have to be judged upon come Christmas time as we will either be flying high or another Juande Ramos situation! As for Vertongen i think he looks like one of the better centre backs around at the moment, who else is available??
    I also seem to remember Vermaelen saying in an article a few months back that he wanted him to sign for Arsenal!

  • Comment posted by U15335772, at 21:32 8 Jul 2012

    Cyber who's coming 3456 then , means arsenal are coming 8 and who knows where Chelsea are going to finish . Modric for 35 to 40 million he can go like every player to leave spurs will get showen to actually not be as good as everyone thinks he is and as for redknapp did a good job but did you see the last three players he signed for us. unlike arsenal we know when to cut out the dead wood

  • Comment posted by Pete XIII, at 21:07 8 Jul 2012

    #49 oops... must've confused him for being in the tournament after watching YouTube vids of him a few weeks ago o_O

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