Tottenham confirm signing of ex Southampton star Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of Atletico Madrid defender Toby Alderweireld, who last season impressed during a loan spell at Southampton.

The Guardian reported on Tuesday 7 July that Spurs had agreed a £11.4m ($17.5m) deal with the La Liga side to sign the Belgium international but the move was on hold due to a dispute between the Saints and Atletico Madrid.

Southampton manager Ronaldo Koeman recently revealed that after Alderweireld's impressive loan spell at St Marys, they had exercised an option to buy the player for £6.8m on the understanding that Atletico had missed the deadline to cancel that arrangement by paying £1.5m.

"Southampton signed an option to the player and Atletico Madrid is trying to pay back the option. In our knowledge that it was too late and what happened, with Tottenham in the middle, I don't know. Of course. And the player told us the same," Koeman told reporters earlier in July, according to the Basingstoke Gazette.

But Tottenham have now confirmed his signing until 2020 to make him the third addition of Mauricio Pochettino's defensive overhaul, following the arrival of centre-back Kevin Wimmer from Cologne and former Burnley right-back Kieran Trippier.

"We are delighted to announce the signing of Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid. The defender has signed a contract with the club until 2020," the club confirmed.

Meanwhile, the defender has expressed his delight over the agreement while revealing the chance to play alongside Belgium international teammates Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele and Jan Vertonghen was key in his decision to move to White Hart Lane.

"I'm very proud to become a Spurs player," he told Tottenham's official website.

"From the beginning I knew a lot about it (the club) from Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli.

"It's a big club and it's always been a dream to play at a club like Spurs. Now that dream is coming true so I'm very happy, very proud and I will give my best.

"I know the players from the national team and I played with Jan at Ajax, we had a central defensive partnership.

"It's nice when you join another club that you know a couple of players. I hope to get to know them a little better now."