Paulinho... new Tottenham Hotspur signing.

Powerful Brazil midfielder Paulinho looked forward to a Premier League debut with Tottenham Hotspur after completing his move from Corinthians yesterday.

Spurs said in a statement they had reached agreement for the transfer, put at around 17 million pounds ($25.30 million) by local media, after Paulinho successfully completed a medical examination.

The 24-year-old, who scored 34 goals in 167 games for Sao Paulo-based Corinthians, shone in Brazil’s winning Confederations Cup campaign last month.

“I want to thank Tottenham for believing in me,” he told the club website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com).

“It’s a huge pleasure for my career to be at a club as big as Tottenham. I know it will be a huge challenge but I think I can help all my colleagues to succeed and give a lot of happiness to the supporters.

“We used to watch the Premier League in Brazil – including Tottenham – and this club has big players. I just want to help them to succeed here,” added the player after a visit to the club’s training centre.

Paulinho has been capped by Brazil 17 times and was a key part of the Corinthians side that beat Chelsea in the Club World Cup final last December.

He joins Brazilian international midfielder Sandro at the North London club.

Paulinho became Andre Villas-Boas’s first summer recruit as he looks to reshape his squad ahead of a push for a top-four place in the English Premier League next season.

The player revealed last month that a bid from Spurs to seal his signature had been lodged and that north London was his most likely destination.

Inter and Real Madrid were also believed to be interested in a move for the former Bragantino midfielder, who scored twice during the Confederations Cup, following on from his equalising goal in Brazil’s 2-2 draw with England last month.

Tottenham finished fifth last season despite a club-record points total and missed out on a Champions League place.

They will play in the Europa League instead.