Van der Vaart has won 83 caps for Holland, scoring 16 goals, and has played in two European Championships and two World Cups, including this year's tournament in South Africa where he featured five times in his side's run to the final.

The 27-year-old was available at a cut-price rate after new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho decided to cash in on a player who would have struggled to win a first-team place ahead of the likes of Kaka, Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Redknapp believes he has landed a bargain and, speaking before the move was completed, he said: "He is available now for about eight million. He is a quality player. He is a Dutch international and a great footballer.

"For that sort of money, he is a top player and he will improve us for sure. It's a last minute job."

On the attributes Van der Vaart will bring to Tottenham, Redknapp said: "He is a great passer of the ball, he is a top footballer. He will join in here and play the way we like to play, he would be a big plus for us."