Spurs confirm Paulinho signing

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the arrival of FIFA Confederations Cup star Paulinho on Saturday, as the English Premier League club made their first pre-season signing in a bid to secure a top four finish next term. The 24-year-old, previously with Corinthians, was a regular for Brazil during their FIFA Confederations Cup campaign which culminated in a 3-0 win over Spain in the final on Sunday. The midfielder picked up the adidas Bronze Ball for his performances during the tournament. "I am very happy and excited to have joined Spurs," he told the north London club's official website. "It's a huge pleasure for my career to be at a club as big as Tottenham. "I know it will be a huge challenge but I think I can help all my colleagues to succeed and give a lot of happiness to the supporters. The Training Centre is amazing and I'm very impressed about the conditions Tottenham offers to the players. I will focus on my job and use the facility as much as possible. "We used to watch the Premier League in Brazil – including Tottenham – and this club has big players. I just want to help them to succeed here. It's nice to have another Brazilian in the squad and I'm excited to meet with Sandro and all the players." Inter Milan and Real Madrid were also believed to be interested in a move for the midfielder, who scored twice during the Confederations Cup, following on from his equalising goal in Brazil's 2-2 draw with England last month. Source: fifa.com