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LONDON - England and Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate has agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur, the London Premier League club said today.
"We are delighted to announce we have reached agreement with Middlesbrough for the transfer of Jonathan Woodgate," the club said in a statement on their website.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but Woodgate was at the club's training ground on Monday to finalise details of the transfer.
Woodgate, whose career has been blighted by injury, had made it clear he wanted to leave Boro, his home-town team he joined from Real Madrid for A3;7 million ($18 million) last year - around half what the Spanish club paid Newcastle United for him in 2004.
The 28-year-old made his name at Leeds United when they were a real force under David O'Leary but, after moving to Newcastle in 2003, he has made only 81 league appearances for Newcastle, Real and Middlesbrough, who he initially joined on loan.
He won the first of six England caps in 1999 and his sixth last year.
Despite his class on the ball, excellent anticipation and pace, his stop-start club career has meant he has never been able to establish an international career.
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate, himself a former England centre back, said he did not try to prevent the transfer when it became obvious Woodgate wanted to move.
"You're looking for everyone at your club to want to be here and be part of it," Southgate said.
"We were then asking a question a Jonathan - do you want to be here and be part of what we want to do or do you want to head off?
"It seems he wanted to head off."
Woodgate is likely to form an impressive central defensive partnership with Ledley King, though Michael Dawson will hope to keep him on the sidelines.
- REUTERS