Spurs sign England under-21 defender

Cape Town - Tottenham Hotspur have signed England under-21 Eric Dier from Sporting Club for £4m, subject to a medical.

The 20-year old centre-back, who can also play as a holding midfielder, has made 26 appearances for the Lisbon club in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

Dier spent some time on loan at Everton towards the end of the 2010-2011 season, but was unfortunate not to make any first-team appearnaces for the Merseyside club.

According to reports, Dier had refused to sign a new contract with Sporting before Spurs activated his release clause, and provided the medical goes well, he will become the London club's third signing this summer for new manager Mauricio Pochettino, following the arrivals of Ben Davies and Michael Vorm from Swansea City.