Soccer: How did Ryan Nelsen end up at Spurs?

Ryan Nelsen. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Former Blackburn manager Mark Hughes once said that signing Ryan Nelsen on a free transfer in 2005 was one of his best pieces of business and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will now hope he can look back and say the same thing.

Nelsen was yesterday the target of a surprise late swoop as the English Premier League January transfer window closed. There had been little talk of the All Whites skipper making any move, other than a possible return to DC United in America's MLS, but became one of the hot topics of conversation in the always-frenzied last day of activity.

Blackburn has today confirmed Nelsen has been released. Spurs is yet to confirm the move but is hopeful of completing the transfer today.

Nelsen told the Press the move was "extremely exciting".

"It's just an exciting opportunity at this stage of my career. I've loved my time at Blackburn, but it's something I just couldn't turn down." Nelsen said.

The former Rovers captain said he had made "life-long friends" at the Lancashire club.

"It's been a fantastic time in my life."

He said his former teammates had wished him the best.

Nelsen's American agent Lyle Yorks said they were waiting only on an international clearance.

Blackburn dramatically cancelled Nelsen's contract just moments before the window closed, which made him a free agent and gave Spurs more time to sign him. The 34-year-old's contract with Blackburn was due to expire at the end of the 2012-13 season.

"We settled with Blackburn and have reached agreement with Spurs," Yorks told the Washington Post.

"We're just awaiting clearance. It's for six months, with a one-year option. It all unfolded quickly. Harry Redknapp has always been a big fan of Ryan. When the opportunity came up, it really played itself out today."

It's not a move that's universally popular with both Spurs and Blackburn fans, with Tottenham fans in particular pointing to Nelsen's age and struggles with injury. He hasn't played a competitive game since Blackburn's 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa on August 20 and recently returned to New Zealand to have his knee injury assessed by All Blacks medical staff.

But when fit - and it's widely believed he will return soon - he is one of the best defenders in the Premiership. He proved that at the 2010 World Cup, when he helped the All Whites to draws against Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay and was chosen in many pundits' team of the World Cup.

Spurs have skipper Michael Dawson, Ledley King and Younes Kaboul on their books at centre-back but King is injured more often than not and Dawson has also had injury problems. French defender William Gallas is out with a long-term injury and Tottenham yesterday offloaded Sebastien Bassong to Wolves.

"I'm hoping to sign Ryan Nelsen on a free until the end of the season," Redknapp said after his side's 3-1 defeat of Wigan yesterday (NZT) that solidified their third place in the Premier League. "I think he's a great competitor and a good sort to have at your club. Always liked him."

Redknapp tried once before to sign Nelsen when he was Portsmouth manager but the All Whites skipper proved difficult to prise away. Nelsen was also linked to a move to Arsenal about five years ago but this proved little more than paper talk. There have been many who wondered how he would fare at a top-four club and, while he's not now in his prime, will soon get a chance to see.

"Tottenham are right up there with the big guns, so it's fantastic for Ryan," said former All White and Oceania Player of the Century Wynton Rufer. "Ryan is international class. Unfortunately we don't have that many players playing that level and to go one step higher, all credit to him."

Nelsen has played more than 200 games for Blackburn and been a big reason for their continued existence in the Premier League.

He also earns close to $8 million a year, making him the highest-paid sportsman in the country, which might have been one of the reasons Blackburn were happy to offload him.