The fee has yet to be confirmed but both clubs have confirmed the deal and he will be presented to Real's supporters at 12pm on Monday.

El Mundo newspaper has reported that the fee is €91m (£77.7m) which falls just short of the £80m the Liga giants paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

However reports in Britain say that the price is closer to £86m which would be a record.

“I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date. I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams, but I can honestly say, this is my dream come true," said Bale.

"I am well aware that I would not be at the level I am today were it not for firstly Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times and affording me the environment and support they have.

“Tottenham will always be in my heart and I’m sure that this season will be a successful one for them. I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life, playing football for Real Madrid."

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy added: "'Gareth was a player we had absolutely no intention of selling as we look to build for the future.

"He is a player whose career we have fostered and developed and he was only a year into his new four year contract.

"Such has been the attention from Real Madrid and so great is Gareth's desire to join them, that we have taken the view that the player will not be sufficiently committed to our campaign in the current season.

"'We have, therefore, with great reluctance, agreed to this sale and do so in the knowledge that we have an exceptionally strong squad."

Bale will wear the number 11 shirt in Madrid.

Bale joined from Southampton in May 2007 and during his six years with the Club made 203 appearances, scoring 55 goals.

Speaking after Spurs' 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said: "He is going to join Real Madrid and we wish him all the best.

"He has left us with great memories from last season which I think every Tottenham fan cherishes but he has moved on and we move on as well."

Good luck to him, but quite frankly it was a waste of money for Madrid. Could have saved it for someone else or payed off some debts.

Thank you for all the memories, Gareth, and I hope you rip the league in half. <3

Something tells me he will regret it, though, once the glitz and glamour wear off. He could have stayed and become a legend; I fear he'll now be expected to merely feed Ronaldo's goal tally.

Time will tell.

I agree with the Ronaldo bit.

Cr7 Bale vs Messi Neymar. I can't wait for the next clasico ^^

I seriously hope we use him as a striker. I do NOT want our talented and young midfielders and wingers to be wasted. Bale can replace Benzema as our striker, and Morata can be his back-up. And then we can sell Benzema to Arsenal or some other club who want him.

Ahhhhh. I'm scared as to how these transfers will affect RM and FCB. I don't know whether Neymar and Bale will HELP the teams or HURT them (in terms of money spent and existing young talent within their rosters). I am hoping that they will help.

ESPN reports it at 100M Euros
http://espnfc.com/news/story/\_/id/1530287/gareth-bale-joins-real-madrid-tottenham-world-record-fee&balenew1?cc=3888

Can't wait for classico, watching Valencia vs Barcelona right now and amazing match, Messi and Neymar getting along good, and Valencia with two late goals (one which was just incredible).

Wow. Bale reported to earn 300 k pounds a week before tax. More than Ronaldo's 215 k a week.

That's exactly the same situation Xavi and Iniesta are in, with Neymar earning more than them.

This is getting ridiculous. Basically Perez and Rosell are telling me that Neymar is better than Xavi and Iniesta, and that Bale is better than Ronaldo. Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. There is nothing that gets me more annoyed than when people directly involved in football disgrace it's players. These wages are basically saying a big "F**K YOU" to Ronaldo, Iniesta, and Xavi.

Not to mention that Perez actually spent more on BALE than RONALDO. Just let that one sink in for now.

^ i heard that Iniesta is going to be the 2nd highest paid soon

EDIT: yea agree with you Neymar getting paid more than Xavi and Iniesta is a joke, and Bale who had an amazing run in a short time is getting paid more than Ronaldo who made his name in the EPL before coming to Madrid

@WayneRooney

Give me your sources. As far as I'm concerned, Messi is the highest paid Barcelona player, with Neymar right behind him.

@Dynastian lol i am watching the Valencia vs Barcelona game, and the commentators said it, thats why i don't know if it is true or not

EDIT: you guys should be watching this right now, amazing game right now

I did not see this thread when I commented on AboubAbdellatif's thread. But what I basically said that they would be much better off with Suarez. For many reasons too, I don't think I need to go over it. But with Isco's transfer, Ozil is getting less playing time. How can a player like Ozil not start every game? With Bale's transfer, what will happen to DiMaria or Ronaldo? Will they take Ronaldo out of his natural position and shift him to the right so that Bale can play on the left? Ronaldo would score less goals because most of his goals are cutting in from the left wing and shooting, his deadliest technique. He costed more and gets payed more than Ronaldo, that is a disgrace. Also Casillas is getting benched for Lopez now which will cause more problems within the squad. I worry for the Real Madrid team.

@Tdot

I worry for them too. But I have the answer to one of your questions.

Isco is getting more playing time because he SCORES. Ozil is indeed the better play-maker, but he doesn't take his chances at goal. Isco shoots far more than Ozil, and has 3 goals in 3 games so far. That's why Ancelotti prefers Isco over Ozil. If Ozil has the will to stay, he will improve his goal-scoring abilities, and will fight for a place back in the team. Especially with Kaka gone.

@ Dyn

That doesn't mean Isco is the better player than Ozil. Ozil sets up many many goals for his teammates Ronaldo and Benzema. Many of Ronaldo's goals come from Ozil assists. Ozil is world class and any team in the world would wish to have him. To not utilize him would be a big mistake.
& Kaka was never competition.

@tdot: Bale will probably be played be on the right. He's been playing as an inverted winger/second striker.

@ Lodatz

Yeah I thought that too, but he is a lot better on the left. Maybe he will replace Benzema as the main striker?

@tdot: moving to the right, and centre, was what put Bale on that amazing goal-spree to begin with. Madrid would be insane to put him back out on the left, after that.

@tdot

But you missed the point. Quite often, Ozil was given plenty of space to operate, and could've had an easy chance to score, but chose to pass instead and give up the opportunity. Right now, Isco is DEADLY. Just watch mate. In one more year, Isco will be better than Ozil.

I don't mind Isco playing over Ozil, but I DO mind Ozil NOT getting enough playing time.

@ Lodatz

Maybe I haven't watched Bale much, but I thought he excelled on the left.

@ Dyn

Yeah I get you. Probably not a year but yeah :P I'm just saying Ozil is not a player that belongs to the bench.