~RS~q~RS~v=~RS~z~RS~36~RS~)
Rafael van der Vaart: Hamburg sign Tottenham midfielder
Hamburg have confirmed the signing of Rafael van der Vaart from Tottenham.
The German club tweeted: "It's official. Welcome home", with a picture of the 29-year-old Netherlands midfielder in a number 23 shirt.
He has agreed a three-year deal with his former club for a fee reported to be £10m.
Van der Vaart spent the past two seasons at Tottenham after joining from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day 2010.
The Dutchman said on his Twitter account: "Of course I am sad to leave Spurs and especially all the fans which have been nothing but great.
"Thanks to the best fans in England for an amazing time."
Van de Vaart played at Hamburg from 2005-2008, making more than 90 appearances and scoring 39 goals.
The deal was partly financed by a local investor and coach Thorsten Fink. He said: "I am delighted that Rafael van der Vaart will be playing for Hamburg again. He will be a strong addition to our team."
He scored 15 times in 36 appearances during his first season for Spurs, netting 13 goals the following campaign.
Comments
Jump to comments pagination
All posts are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules.
More from Football
Elsewhere on the BBC
-
A leaf from nature's book
Cities rely on systems which pollute our world, but that will all change in the future, writes Rachel Armstrong
-
Comment number 46.
Elscotto1st September 2012 - 23:04
Could it be that Levy intends to wait until AVB loses the Spurs dressing room in order to sack him and then appoint the under rated assistant to win the league at the last gasp? That could never happen, right?
Link to this (Comment number 46)
Comment number 45.
higuize1st September 2012 - 23:03
Good luck to Rafa wish him all the best, hope his wife gets better and he does well at Hamburg, did a top job for us during his time.
http://www.spursforum.co.uk/
Link to this (Comment number 45)
Comment number 44.
topgazza1st September 2012 - 12:25
Also...
The PL has lost its best looking players wife in VDV's lovely better half Sylvie. Blimey, I'd move to Germany if that's where she was.
Link to this (Comment number 44)
Comment number 43.
Jeremy1st September 2012 - 12:21
still couldn't believe & understand why vdv is sold (actually i do, his fitness & age plus the money offered for him) but he has his very minor short comings yet his quality for 70 minutes in a game is good enough for 99.9% of the teams in the world... wishing you all the best & you'll always be a spurs legend to me, will always remember the goals you scored against arsenal & inter milan... coys!
Link to this (Comment number 43)
Comment number 42.
topgazza1st September 2012 - 12:15
They won't but Spurs should promote young Carroll to the first eleven. Just as neat and clever with his passes as Modric. He holds the ball well and did very will in the Europa Cup games. Utd make an industry of this with young players supported by experience around them. Spurs only now and then. VDV is not so much a loss in the long run due to his hamstring problems.
Link to this (Comment number 42)
Comments 5 of 46