Tottenham Hotspur have won the battle to sign Michael Carrick from West Ham.
Tottenham Hotspur have won the battle for Michael Carrick, after the West Ham midfielder signed a four-year contract with the White Hart Lane club.Carrick's future has been uncertain during the past few weeks due to his reluctance to sign a new deal with The Hammers.
The 23-year-old would have been out of contract next summer but the Championship club were not prepared to lose the England cap for nothing.
Portsmouth, Everton and West Brom had all expressed an interest in the midfielder, while Premiership champions Arsenal were also admirers.
Indeed, Pompey manager Harry Redknapp felt Arsenal's interest in Carrick scuppered his hopes of luring the player to Fratton Park.
Earlier this week, Spurs entered the hunt for the North East native and have quickly thrashed out a deal with their London counterparts and Carrick.
Spurs will pay an undisclosed fee to The Hammers while Carrick has penned a four-year deal with Jacques Santini's side.
He now has to pass a routine medical with Spurs director of football Frank Arnesen delighted with the club's latest recruit.
"Michael is a big English talent and we're very pleased to sign him, particularly at his young age," Arnesen told the club's official website.
"Technically he is very good, a great passer of the ball who can go left or right and with him we have a very strong midfield.
"We have high-quality competition for places and that's something any top club needs."
