Tottenham Hotspur Confirm Signing of Brazil International Midfielder Paulinho

Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Paulinho from Corinthians, according to the official club website.

BBC Sport's David Ornstein reports the Brazil international has joined Spurs for a fee in the region of £17 million after passing his medical with the club.

The 24-year-old, who was part of the Brazil team that won the Confederations Cup last weekend against Spain, is now relishing the chance to prove himself in the Premier League with Andre Villas-Boas' team. The club's official Twitter account mentioned Paulinho's comments after completing the move:

Paulinho will now link up with international teammate Sandro at White Hart Lane as the North London club attempt to break into the Top Four next season.

Spurs missed out on the Champions League last season when they were pipped to fourth spot by local rivals Arsenal on the final day of the campaign.

Paulinho scored 34 goals in 167 games for Corinthians; he has earned 17 international caps playing for Brazil and has struck five goals for his country.

The midfielder's most recent goalscoring contribution came in the 86th minute of the Confederations Cup 2-1 semifinal win over Uruguay, when he grabbed the late winner for Luiz Felipe Scolari's team, as BBC Sport highlighted.

Paulinho possesses a strong work ethic, working tirelessly from box to box. He can push a team forward as well as operating in a defensive role for both club and country.

He also offers a threat for set-piece deliveries, which has helped to produce 20 goals in 86 appearances for Corinthians.

But it is on the international stage where Paulinho has emerged as a genuine talent. He made his debut for Brazil in September 2011 against Argentina and scored his first goal for Brazil a year later against the same opposition.

Manchester City were linked with Paulinho as he impressed in Corinthians' Club World Cup triumph in December, as Alan Nixon of the Daily Mirror reported.

Paulinho is no stranger to European football after playing for FC Vilnius in Lithuania and LKS Lodz in Poland. But, as he revealed to Charlie Wyett of The Sun, his time in eastern Europe saw him subject to racism from the terraces.

Since returning to Brazil with Corinthians, Paulinho has been enjoying his football again, though, and now his sights on proving himself in the Premier League ahead of the World Cup on home soil next year.