BEN - SPURS IS A GREAT MOVE FOR ME

The fee is believed to be in the region of £5 million, and it ensures the 24-year-old will be Spurs` first choice left back next season, despite reported interest in his services from Liverpool and Sunderland.

There had been an unexpected delay to the transfer being processed on Friday, but everything was satisfactorily resolved in order for the ex-Millwall man to link up with his new team-mates ahead of a pre-season tour to Denmark.

"I`m very pleased," admitted Thatcher. "It`s a great move for me and I`m looking forward to the start of the season.

"Obviously, with Wimbledon going down, the Premiership`s the only place to be and I wanted to get back there as quickly as possible and Spurs have offered me that opportunity.

"Wimbledon are a very good club, very friendly, and I got on great with all the staff. It was a wrench when I left Millwall so these things happen, and I`ll be popping back to see the players.

"Spurs are a massive club, a London club so I don`t have to move house and I know a few of the players here," he told the official Tottenham website.

 "They are going forward, they`ve spent a few quid this summer and will be looking to win things. Neil Sullivan and Chris Perry will make settling in a bit easier and it shouldn`t be a problem.

"I read the papers and that was all I knew until I heard from Wimbledon and the horse`s mouth, so I didn`t get too excited. It`s been well documented Tottenham were after me for a long time and, as soon as it happened, I jumped at the chance.

"Obviously, my main ambition is to play for England but I am just concentrating on playing for Tottenham," he admitted. "If I play consistently well for a good side in the Premier League then I`ve got half a chance.

"Our prospects are very good. We can improve on last year as we`ve made some quality signings, maybe there will be some more before the start of the season, and we`ll probably be aiming for a European place, but we`ll see how it goes.

"I think Wimbledon are strong enough to come back up but Terry Burton has a big job on his hands. I think it`s nice to be at the other end of the table!"

Click here to read the Opta Special on Thatcher`s move
Click here to view one of our many stories suggesting Thatcher was on his way to Tottenham