Tottenham new boy Moussa Sissoko: I was laughing when I heard I had signed for Everton

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James Benge2 September 2016

Moussa Sissoko has insisted that he was never interested in a move to Everton and laughed off their interest as he waited to complete a deal to Tottenham.

The French international was the last major mover of the transfer window, completing a £30million move to Spurs just minutes before the deadline passed.

Tottenham had failed in a £16m bid earlier on Wednesday but Sissoko was allowed to leave the France squad to “finalise his move”, leading to speculation that Everton might steal in to secure a deal with Newcastle.

Sissoko, though, insists that a move to Goodison Park was never on the cards despite reports in the closing hours claiming Everton had laid on a plane to transport him to a medical.

Tottenham's record signings

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"I never went to Everton," Sissoko told L'Equipe. "It's funny. I was watching TV, and I saw that a deal had been done with Everton and that I had signed for them.

"But I was in London, waiting to sign my contract [with Spurs]."

Since his move to Tottenham Sissoko has been reminded of the numerous quotes he has given in recent years expressing his desire to move to their north London rivals Arsenal, who he described as “the club of my heart” ahead of Euro 2016.

The tournament was to be crucial in placing Sissoko on the wish list of several leading sides, with Real Madrid among those reportedly interested in his services.

But it was to be the lure of Champions League football that convinced Sissoko that Tottenham was the destination for him.

"The main thing is that I signed for the club I wanted to join," Sissoko said. "Of course I would have liked it to have happened earlier, but now it's done.

"I hope to have a good season and I'm happy to be able to play in the Champions League. I have played at a World Cup and a Euro.

"I was only missing playing for the cup with the big ears [Champions League]."

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