Tottenham complete loan signing of Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale has returned to Tottenham after the North London club completed the signing of the Real Madrid forward on a season-long loan deal.
Bale originally joined Spurs from Southampton in 2007 before signing for Real for a then world record £85million fee in 2013.
The 31-year-old has since fallen out of favour at the Santiago Bernabeu and has been linked with a return to the Premier League in recent transfer windows.
Bale, who won the Champions League on four occasions during his time at Real, arrived at Spurs' training ground on Friday morning to finalise the deal.
In a statement, Tottenham confirmed: "We are delighted to announce the return of Gareth Bale to the Club on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
"He will wear the number 9 shirt."
Real Madrid said: "Our club wishes the best of luck to a player who is part of one of the most successful periods of our history."
Speaking to SpursTV, the Wales international admitted that he's delighted to be playing for Tottenham once again.
"It's nice to be back. It's such a special club to me," Bale revealed.
"It's where I made my name. What an amazing club with amazing fans. It's incredible to be back and hopefully now I can get some match fitness, get underway and really help the team and hopefully get some trophies.
"I always thought when I did leave that one day I would love to come back and the opportunity has now arisen.
"I feel like it's a good fit and it's a good time for me. I'm hungry, I'm motivated and I want to do well for the team. I can't wait to get started."
Real have been looking to move Bale on with the forward starting just 12 league games last season as they secured the LaLiga title.
However, in July 2019, Real called off a deal for Bale to join Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning because they were chasing a transfer fee for the player. That was despite Zinedine Zidane admitting at the time that a move away would be "best for everyone".
Spurs bounced back from a 1-0 opening weekend defeat to Everton with a 2-1 victory over Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Europa League on Thursday.
Tottenham anticipate that Bale 'will be match fit after October’s international break' having sustained a knee injury while on international duty earlier this month.
Redknapp: Bale the complete all round player
Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has praised Gareth Bale, labelling him the "complete all round player".
Redknapp was in charge of Spurs between 2008 and 2012 and worked closely with Bale as the forward established himself as one of the world's best.
"He is an amazing athlete," he said. "Once he gets up to speed, he's not going to lose that electric pace.
"He's got the ability to run long distances and short distances. He's quick over short distances, he can do everything.
"He can dribble, he can shoot, he can head it. He is the complete all round player. His physique is amazing, great build.
"I thought he was a remarkable player when I had him. He could pick the ball up and within seconds run from your penalty box into their penalty box. He can get shots off or crosses.
"He's just an amazing footballer."
Redknapp also disagreed with those who labelled Bale a 'flop' during his time in the Spanish capital.
"People said he was a flop at Real Madrid but every time I saw Madrid winning a Champions League or whatever, there was Gareth scoring spectacular goals and doing incredible things," he continued.
"You look at his goal ratio. It was incredible. He had a fantastic goal ratio at Madrid. I'm surprised that [Zinedine] Zidane obviously, for whatever reason, didn't like him or didn't fancy him. That happens in football, everyone's got opinions on players.
"That's what makes the transfer market go round otherwise nobody would ever move!
'But I think for Tottenham, he's a great signing."
Bale worth adding in Fantasy Football?
Bale joining Tottenham will, of course, mean he becomes available to select in Sky Sports Fantasy Football teams.
But how much will he be worth and will he be listed as a midfielder or a forward? We reveal all in our podcast...