Didier Zokora has played his last game for Tottenham Hotspur after the club announced it had reached an agreement to sell the midfielder to Sevilla.
The Spanish side had been reluctant to meet Spurs’ valuation of the Ivory Coast international but it is understood a bid of £8.65m has been agreed.
The sale represents a small profit on the 28-year-old who joined the club £8.2m from St Etienne after the 2006 World Cup.
Zokora made 134 appearances during his time at White Hart Lane typified by the odd driving run ending in a shot skewed high and wide.
At his best Zokora was an energetic and tenacious presence in central midfield, as well as a versatile squad player who could fill in at right-back or centre-back.
But his talent shone through inconsistently. Fans grew frustrated at his wasteful passing long before Wilson Palacios displaced him as Harry Redknapp’s box-to-box midfielder of choice in January.
A statement on Sevilla’s official website says that the deal includes a €30m (£26m) release fee clause and that Zokora, who was part of the League Cup winning side in 2008, joins on a four year deal.
The deal is the first major transfer in or out of the club this summer, and may signal the start of a busy few months at White Hart Lane.
Following significant outlays in January, it is believed Redknapp has to sell before he can make any major acquisitions before the season begins.
He has also had to change transfer targets after losing out to Manchester City in his pursuit of Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz.