Spurs complete Nelsen deal
Published 10:43 02/02/12 By MirrorFootball
Tottenam have announced that they have completed the signing of Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen.
Spurs had been awaiting international clearance after agreeing terms with the 34-year-old New Zealand captain, according to his agent.
Lyle Yorks, Nelsen's Washington-based representative from James Grant Sports, had previously told the Washington Post: "We settled with Blackburn and have reached agreement with Spurs. We're just awaiting clearance. It's for six months, with a one-year option. It all unfolded quickly."
Nelsen, who was able to sign for a new club outside the transfer window because he had become a free agent, was in the final year of his Rovers deal and had made just one appearance since last April following a knee injury.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp had been keen to bring in another defender after Sebastien Bassong joined Wolves on loan for the rest of the season on transfer deadline day.
Tottenham watched Nelsen in a reserve game against Huddersfield on Tuesday prior to Rovers cancelling his contract.
Assistant manager Kevin Bond revealed that the veteran will be in the Tottenham squad for Monday's Barclays Premier League game at Liverpool.
"He is fit and eligible to play on Monday," Bond said. "I've just had a cup of tea with him in the canteen. He is looking forward to the challenge."
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With Spurs just five points off the top of the table, and through to the fifth round of the FA Cup, the 34-year-old hopes he can win some silverware with the north London outfit.
"Medals, trophies are things you strive for. Blackburn got to five semis and never made a final, so it's very exciting," Nelsen told New Zealand's 3News.
Nelsen joins a club already blessed with a number of top-class centre-backs. Ledley King, Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul have all performed well this term when fit and they also have William Gallas, although he is currently out with a long-term calf injury.
The new arrival is looking forward to the challenge of breaking in to the first team.
"I kind of like when the odds are stacked against you, so we'll see. We'll get out there and give it everything," Nelsen said.
"It feels like you're going back to the first day of school, so yeah, everyone will be looking at you and judging you so I better clean my boots and comb my hair... it'll be fun."
The only other major arrival at White Hart Lane last month was 33-year-old Everton striker Louis Saha.
A number of fans have been left underwhelmed at the arrival of the ageing duo, particularly given that they were strongly linked with the likes of Loic Remy, Christopher Samba and Junior Hoilett at the start of 2012.
Bond cast aside those worries today, however, insisting that Saha and Nelsen's experience will prove vital to the squad as they start a nervy run-in searching for their first title since 1961.
"I think that experience and that know-how of having been there before is important," he said.
"They are the right characters. Having those type of characters in the dressing room and the training ground will be really important for us.
"The type of people they are, I think they can make an important difference."
Bond has been impressed with how Saha has adapted to life at Spurs since his deadline day move on Tuesday.
"I wasn't in yesterday, but from what I am told, Louis Saha trained well," the Tottenham assistant added.
