CHARLTON striker Darren Bent has joined Tottenham in a deal worth £16.5million.

Spurs will pay £15.5million up front for the England international with up to a further £1million to follow.

Bent said: "Tottenham have a lot of young English players and it's a young squad, it's a squad going forward and that's the direction I wanted to take.

"They seem to be getting better and better every season and I would love to be part of that. It helps a lot that I know a few of the lads from England internationals and I'm sure they will help me settle in.

"It's exciting times for me and the club, hopefully I'll show what I can do at Tottenham and we’ll go on to win things."

The 23-year-old made 77 appearances during two years with the Addicks, scoring 37 goals, and Charlton chairman Richard Murray thanked him for his efforts.

"He's been a model professional during his time at Charlton. He has been a pleasure to work with and has always represented the club magnificently, both at domestic and international level," he said.

"Realistically, it was always going to be difficult to hang on to a player of his quality following relegation, but we feel we have negotiated the best deal possible for the club and, after a payment to Ipswich, it's a sum of money that will cushion the effects of relegation for the club."

Bent joined Charlton in May 2004 for £2.5million. Ipswich are entitled to 20 per cent of the profit made by Charlton on the player, under a sell-on clause, meaning they will get £2.58million.

Earlier this month Bent turned down the opportunity to join West Ham in a move which would have seen him reunited with his former Addicks boss Alan Curbishley.

Tottenham's sporting director Damien Comolli said: "Darren has shown fantastic motivation and desire to join the club and we are absolutely delighted to have him.

"He recognised we have a project here and as a player he wants to work with Martin Jol and showed that all the way."

Jol added: "Darren’s strength is his stamina. Normally players will make runs three or four times in 45 minutes, he will do it all the time and if you manage to play balls behind the defence, he will be there. That's what I like about him.

"He has pace, he links play well and can see a pass - he can exploit the space and play as well."

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