Tottenham Hotspur's new signing Gylfi Sigurdsson says the club's ambition was the main reason for him turning down a move to Liverpool.

After scoring seven goals in 18 Premier League games for Swansea City during a six-month loan spell, the Icelander looked likely to join the Welsh-based club on a permanent basis.

However, Brendan Rodgers' switch to Liverpool saw Sigurdsson's head turned, however Andre Villas-Boas appointment has led the 22-year-old opting to join Tottenham.

Gylfi Sigurdsson
Sigurdson rejected the chance to move to Liverpool.

"I enjoyed playing under Brendan and I am grateful for everything he has done for me, but after careful consideration I liked Spurs best," Sigurdsson said.

"The team has world-class players in their ranks and they play good football, which I like.

"I was impressed with the club's plans for next season and the coming years. There is clearly great ambition at Tottenham and the club intends to do big things. It is a pleasure to see that Gareth Bale has signed a new contract.

"There are top players in the team and the club is getting a new training ground."

The signing of Sigurdsson was confirmed less than 24 hours after the confirmation of Villas-Boas' appointment as the new head coach at White Hart Lane, replacing the sacked Harry Redknapp.

The Iceland international says the 34 year old's leadership skills were decisive in his move to north London.

"I like him and the ideas he has," Sigurdsson added. "He has faith in me and I'm looking forward to working under his leadership."

Sigurdsson becomes Tottenham's first signing of the summer, following a host of exits, including Vedran Corluka and Niko Kranjcar.

The club have been able to hold down winger Gareth Bale for another year, extending his contract until 2016, while the future of Luka Modric continues to raise question marks.

The Croatian has again demanded to leave Tottenham following a second successive failure to qualify for the Champions League, with Manchester United heavily linked with his signature.

Villas-Boas' biggest task this summer will be holding on to Modric and attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, who has been linked with a move to Schalke.

Meanwhile, Rodgers is yet to make any new signings since joining Liverpool from Swansea, and instead seems intent on assessing his squad before making rash calls in the transfer window.

Rodgers has already recalled Joe Cole from his loan spell at Lille and is due to make a decision on the future of Alberto Aquilani, who despite spending two successive seasons away from Anfield, on loan at Juventus and AC Milan, is yet to agree a deal to leave Liverpool.

While Villas-Boas' greatest task concerns keeping the club's best players, Rodgers' lies in attempting to get the best out of a squad moulded by ex-Reds manager Kenny Dalglish.

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