Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that Clint Dempsey has departed to sign for MLS side Seattle Sounders.
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ESPN FC revealed on Friday that a deal was in place and Spurs confirmed the news of the United States captain’s departure in a brief statement on the club’s official website, adding: “We wish Clint every success for the future.”
Dempsey is to be presented in Seattle on Saturday, as his new club’s Twitter feed hinted.
Make sure you get to your seats by 7:15 tonight for a special presentation from the #Sounders! Matchday: http://t.co/Lo9OOs3OpH
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 3, 2013
The fee is believed to be in the region of £6 million ($ 9 million), an MLS transfer record, while the 30-year-old’s reported salary of £28 million ($ 32 million) over four years would also be the largest sum in MLS history as David Beckham was paid the same amount by LA Galaxy but stretched over five years.
Dempsey asked for a move after Tottenham coach Andre Villas-Boas revealed he is keen to add to his attacking line-up, starting with the imminent arrival of Valencia striker Roberto Soldado.
LA Galaxy were also reportedly interested but Dempsey preferred a switch to the Sounders, where an MLS-high 40,000 fans are in attendance for each home game.
Dempsey played for the New England Revolution for two years before moving to Fulham in January 2007. He then swapped Craven Cottage for Spurs a year ago and scored seven Premier League goals in 29 games. He is also the second-highest scorer in the US national team’s history with 35.
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