Tottenham Hotspur have made their first move in this summer’s transfer market by signing Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Luka Modric.

The North London club have splashed out £16.5m to sign the 21-year-old, who has signed a six-year contract at White Hart Lane.

Modric told his new club’s official website: “I am very lucky and proud to be here in London at Tottenham. I am also happy that the coach Juande Ramos wanted me, it is the most important thing that the coach wants you as a player. I want to show that I have the quality for Tottenham and the English Premier League and help the club achieve big results.”

He continued: “It was not a difficult decision. Last night the president of Dinamo Zagreb called me to tell me he had agreed a deal with Tottenham that was perfect for me. At first I was very surprised, then a few seconds later I was proud over the prospect of coming to England. It is right that many clubs in England were interested in taking me, but my favourite from the first meeting was Tottenham because I am a big fan of coach Ramos.”

He concluded: “I want to play for Tottenham in international football – Champions League or UEFA Cup games. I want to achieve big things with the club and be in the top group of teams in the Premier League.”