Tottenham Signs Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Sends Kyle Walker-Peters to Southampton

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham has signed midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton as the club’s first signing of the summer transfer window.

The 25-year-old Dane joined on a five-year contract on Tuesday as Jose Mourinho rebuilds the squad to steer Tottenham back into the Premier League’s top four after finishing sixth in his first partial season in charge.

Hojbjerg was stripped of the Southampton captaincy after telling the club he would not be signing a new contract.

“What was very important for me was I wanted to play at a club where I could see myself for many years and Tottenham was the one,” Hojbjerg said. “I am very proud, very happy and excited. I think there is a fantastic future ahead for the club and I wanted so much to be a part of that.”

Hojbjerg arrived in England in 2016 from Bayern Munich, where he worked under Pep Guardiola.

“If you want to achieve the big things, you need 11 leaders on the pitch and to do that everyone needs to take responsibility in their position,” Hojbjerg said, “bringing everything they have into the team. I always like to say whatever you put in, you get out.”

Right back Kyle Walker-Peters is heading in the opposite direction, turning his loan move at Southampton into a permanent transfer from Tottenham.