Football
Reuters 17y

Soccer-Tottenham sign Southampton teenager Bale

LONDON, May 25 - Tottenham Hotspur have signed
Southampton's Wales left back Gareth Bale, the English Premier
League club said on their Web site on Friday.

The Cardiff-born defender, who turns 18 in July, was linked
with several top clubs, including Manchester United, during the
January transfer window and has opted to join Spurs.

Tottenham did not disclose the fee but British media said
the transfer was worth up to 10 million pounds ($19.85 million).

Bale, who made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five
goals, became the youngest player to feature for Wales when he
came on as a substitute against Trinidad & Tobago last summer.
"I'm just excited to be coming to a big club, a massive club
like Tottenham," said Bale. "...Tottenham is a club pushing
forward and I want to be part of its future."

He made his first start for Wales at Tottenham's White Hart
Lane ground in September 2006 against Brazil and became his
country's youngest goalscorer against Slovakia in a European
Championship qualifier. He has six caps and two goals.
Tottenham sporting director Damien Comolli added: "We have
been following Gareth for a long time now and have been very
tenacious, so we are absolutely delighted to get him here.

"He is a player of great quality and, as we always say, our
aim in each window is to improve the quality of the squad. He
has the ideal combination to become a top, top player."

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