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Spurs and Sevilla agree Didier Zokora fee
8 Jul 2009Tottenham have agreed a fee with Sevilla for the sale of Didier Zokora to the Primera Division club.
A statement on Spurs' website today confirmed the departure of the 28-year-old after three years at White Hart Lane.
It read: "We have reached agreement for the transfer of Didier Zokora to Sevilla.
"The Ivory Coast international joined us from St Etienne in July 2006 and went on to make 134 appearances for the club, including being part of the League Cup-winning side of 2008.
"We thank Didier for his contribution and wish him every success for the future."
Sevilla confirmed on their website that Zokora had signed a four-year deal at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, which includes a 30million euro release clause, and will be presented next Wednesday.
Sporting director Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo has revealed Zokora's desire to join them was crucial in sealing the deal.
"Every Sevillista should be happy," he said on www.sevillafc.es. "We have to thank the president and the board for the effort they made in this signing.
"Zokora was our main objective for this season.
"We managed to close the deal not without significant effort. We hope it will prove worth the pain. We think the player deserves it.
"As soon as he knew about Sevilla's interest, he only gave signs of dedication and gratitude. This is important in these cases because it gives you leeway in the negotiation.
"We are all really happy today."
He added: "He's a player who works a lot, who runs a lot, physically he's a wonder who covers a lot of the pitch, he's very versatile...
"He is what we needed to complete the excellent midfield that we already have."
Reader views (7)
thank god zokora gone palicos best signing for years
god bless all my fellow yids
- Roberto, granada spain, 09/07/2009 13:22
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Thank god he has gone, he almost made as many tackles as he scored goals for us!?!?!?! And its reported that we got £8.6m for him, must of made the same promotional brochure as Michael Owen did!!
Palacios is far superior and adds massive steel to the team. When Jenas plays with him he has been at his best. Convinced Jenas will always be a Marmite player as me & my mates call him (you either love him or hate him!). I personally think he is very solid and does score his fair share from midfield, maybe needs a few more though - but he should be a legend just for the amount of goals he has scored against A*senal alone!!
He may find himself only a squad player if we need to get to the next level but should not be dispensed completely as he can also play wide right and if needed at full back, both he has been more than capable at in the past and also possesses great pace.
The trouble is how do we find a Gerrard & Lampard that will score 15 goals from midfield, they are all in the CL and if not will be bought by a CL team and will also cost almost as much as Newcastle!!
This is a pre season for calmness, unlike last season. From Xmas onwards we showed great form with the players we already have, just a bit of extra balance on the left, cover for Ledders and a couple of changes up front (not Bellamy please Arry!) and we could dream of top 6 - please lets not have the same old 'top 4' rubbish again we, like Villa and Everton still a long way off that dream!
COYS
- Pk, Enfield, 08/07/2009 22:04
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Taarabt, brilliant. Are you havin a larf ?????
- Michelle,Paxton Rd, Uxbridge, England, 08/07/2009 17:55
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134 appearances and not 1 goal, im sure Mr.Levy got his money back, god knows why we bought him in the first place. Huddlestone cost 6 million less and cans core with both feet...Harry please,you must be able to understand what kind of players can play for spurs, quality players, get rid of Jenas,Bentley and any other dead wood...Keep Huddlestone and Taabat, they are our future. Taabat, needs to play as a team player, he reminds me when Ronaldo came to Man Utd.....
Harry, keep our best players if you want to finish in the top four...forgt Kenwynne Jones and Bellamy, they won't take us to next level...
- Adrian, london, 08/07/2009 17:39
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Re:Geoff Stern,
You've obviously spent too much time in berlin mate. "tough tackling" Zokora couldn't tackle his way out of a paper bag, hence the (great) signing of Palacios.And as for shooting,scoring and passing you can forget it!.Harry will eventually dispense with the useless Jenas,that's if we can find anyone mug enough to pay us for him.Rome was't built in a day,get off the managers back and give him time to build his own side.
- Kevin Breslin, enfield, 08/07/2009 17:39
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Why, did Zokora score more goals than JJ then?....no don't think that he did
- Yanky, Surbiton UK, 08/07/2009 17:01
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Another quality midfielder off loaded by Mr Levy as he continues his fantasy football style of running a football club! The tough tackling Zokora will be surely missed with the likes of the fragile Jermaine Jenas running the midfield. Jenas who's goal scoring and assist record since arriving at the club has been pathetic in comparison to to the like of Gerrard and Lampard and yet JJ continues to have the team be built around him at the expense of far superior players at the club! Huddlestone and the brilliant Taarabt next to the exit door Mr Levy???
- Geoff Stern, Berlin, Germany, 08/07/2009 15:52
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