GARETH Bale's multi-million move to Spurs has finally been announced publicly.

The 17-year-old Saints starlet agreed to sign for the North London club on Thursday night after passing a medical at White Hart Lane - as revealed in that day's Daily Echo.

The player and his agent, David Manasseh, agreed personal terms on a four-year contract that night and Bale told close friends he had signed.

The deal was supposed to be been announced yesterday but was delayed by Saints' directors meeting to discuss the transfer of the club's prize playing asset.

The Echo understands that some directors were concerned at the timing of the sale with Saints still in an 'under off' period following American billionaire Paul Allen's initial interest.

Saints receive £5m as a downpayment for Bale, who only had one year left on his contract to run at St Mary's, and the deal could rise to £10m based on adds-ons.

Bale is the sixth player Saints have sold in recent years for a fee of over £5m following Dean Richards, Wayne Bridge, James Beattie, Peter Crouch and Theo Walcott.

"I really want to play in the Premiership. That is very important to me and it is a fantastic opportunity," said Bale.

"I have thought long and hard about it and I feel the time is right to move on.

"Now the season is finished I have taken stock and decided to move on.

"It is not about money in any way. This is purely a footballing decision and (about) the chance to play regularly in the Premiership."

Boss Martin Jol did not bring homegrown talent to the club last summer, but later admitted that was due to the climate of the transfer market.

Bale, who was also linked with Manchester United and Arsenal, came close to signing in the January transfer window but stayed at St Mary's to help them reach the play-offs.

Saints accepted a similar offer to the one that has now been accepted, but Bale decided to stay loyal and try to help Saints, the club he has been with since he was nine, win promotion.

If Saints had gone up this season instead of losing to Derby on penalties in the play-off semi-final, the Echo understands he would have stayed at St Mary's.

Sporting director Damien Comolli said: "We have been following Gareth for a long time now and have been very tenacious, so we are absolutely delighted to get him here.

"He is a player of great quality and, as we always say, our aim in each window is to improve the quality of the squad.

"Gareth has great physical attributes, he is tall, good in the air and has a fantastic left foot. He is very good on set pieces, he is clever on the ball and his passing selection is excellent.

"He has the ideal combination to become a top, top player and he is only 17."

Bale put himself in the spotlight at the start of the season with a stunning free-kick against Derby in what was only his third senior appearance, followed up with another set-piece against Coventry three days later.

He is the youngest player to be capped by Wales and despite being deployed at full-back so far in his fledgling career, has been tipped to emulate Ryan Giggs if he is developed into a winger.

Jol is looking to strengthen the left flank of his team, so Bale could be played in defence or midfield.

1989: Born July 16 in Cardiff.

2005: Joins Southampton as a trainee.

2006: Apr 17 - Aged 16 years, 275 days, becomes second youngest footballer to play for Southampton in 2-0 Coca-Cola Championship win against Millwall.

May - Makes Wales Under-21 debut against Cyprus. Quickly promoted to senior squad for friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, coming off the bench to become Wales' youngest ever player at 16 years, 315 days.

July 16 - Signs first professional contract with Southampton on 17th birthday.

Aug 6 - Scores first goal for Southampton with free-kick on opening day of the season in a 2-2 draw at Derby.

Oct 7 - Becomes Wales' youngest ever goalscorer with a trademark free-kick in 5-1 defeat to Slovakia.

November - Southampton issue statement denying rumours Bale would leave in the January transfer window.

Dec - Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder expresses an interest in signing Bale.

2007: Jan - Bale's agent says he is happy to stay at Southampton despite Manchester United and Tottenham reportedly bidding £10million for the player. Both clubs admit their interest.

Saints insist the player will not be sold during the January transfer window.

May 25 - Bale joins Tottenham.