Tottenham have confirmed the signing of defender Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid on a five-year deal.

The defender spent last season on loan at Premier League rivals Southampton and initially appeared set to sign on permanently at St Mary’s.

However, after weeks of speculation the Belgian has now moved to White Hart Lane until 2020 meaning at 26, he will likely spend his peak years in north London.

Alderweireld spent his formative years playing for Ajax before moving to the Vicente Calderon in the summer of 2013. However, he could not establish himself in the Spanish capital, resulting in him being loaned to the Saints where he impressed with a string of solid performances.

With Atletico and Tottenham agreeing an undisclosed fee, he is now set to play a major role for Mauricio Pochettino’s men alongside some familiar faces from his international team in Jan Vertonghen, Nacer Chadli and Mousa Dembele.

The defender says he is looking forward to his new challenge and has vowed to give his best for the Lilywhites.

“I’m very proud to become a Spurs player,” he told the club’s official website. “I’m very happy to be here and I hope to have a wonderful time with this team.

“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.”

With the new season now just a month away, Alderweireld will be hoping to make his Tottenham debut on the opening weekend of the campaign away at Manchester United, with Spurs the current 5.00 underdogs for the win, while the draw is 3.60 and the Red Devils 1.62.