Tottenham confirm signing of Swedish wonderkid Lucas Bergvall for £8.5m on his 18th birthday… after hijacking Barcelona’s attempts to sign the midfielder – who will officially join the club this summer

Tottenham have confirmed the £8.5m signing of highly-rated Swedish youngster Lucas Bergvall on his 18th birthday.

Bergvall had looked set to sign for Barcelona, though Ange Postecoglou‘s side hijacked the deal, and successfully convinced him to join the Premier League.

The midfielder spent time at Tottenham on Wednesday and as per Sky Sports, completed a medical at the club on Friday, as he snubbed the Spanish giants. 

He has signed a contract until 2029, but will not officially join the club until the summer – and will spend the rest of the season at Swedish side Djurgardens.  

Bergvall told the club’s official website: ‘It has always been my dream to play in the Premier League – the best league in the world.   

Bergvall will stay at Djurgardens for the rest of the season before officially joining Spurs in January

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‘It’s a really good club with a great manager and a really hungry, young team that play good football and is fun to watch.

‘So it’s a pleasure for me to join this big club. It feels like the beginning of a new era with a great coach.

‘He gives a lot of players the chance to go on the big stage.’ 

He described himself as a box-to-box player who likes to have the ball at his feet. 

Dejan Kulusevski, who came through the youth ranks at IF Brommapojkarna like Bergvall, also played a part in the transfer.

Bergvall caught the interest of several clubs around Europe, including Man United, who he had trials with when he was 14.

After rising through the ranks at Swedish side IF Brommapojkarna, he joined Djurgardens in December 2022.

He would go on to make his debut in the Swedish first division not long after his arrival, coming off the bench during a 3-1 win against his former side, Brommapojkarna.

Bergvall praised Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou after snubbing the chance to join Barcelona

Bergvall made his first start for the club later in May during a 1-0 win against Hacken, before scoring three goals across 28 appearances from midfield, with it being confirmed last month that Barcelona had been interested in signing him.

The 18-year-old is held in such high esteem that he has already made his senior international debut for Sweden, coming on to play 31 minutes during their 2-1 victory against Estonia earlier this January. 

His arrival follows that of Timo Werner on loan and Radu Dragusin on a permanent deal.