Hull sign Spurs skipper Dawson, paving way for Fazio transfer

Hull City, 9/2 chances with Coral to be relegated this season, have signed Spurs skipper and centre back Michael Dawson for an undisclosed fee on an three-year deal.

Tigers boss Steve Bruce has chased the Northallerton-born 30-year-old all summer, as he seeks a defender with experience in continental competition to bolster his backline for the Europa League campaign.

“I know this club well and obviously there is some family history with my brother Andy having been here,” Dawson said.

“I’m just excited about getting started here now. The whole football club made it an attractive move to me – the manager, the squad of players, the fans. I feel ready and raring to go.

“Leaving Tottenham after ten years there was always going to be hard for me, but the chances to play there were going to be less and so a move to Hull City represented a great opportunity for me.

“It’s going to be a different type of challenge here. The season this club had last year was incredible, getting to the FA Cup final and retaining their place in the Premier League.

“We have to build on that and look forward to the season ahead.”

Dawson, who has four England caps, joined Tottenham in the January transfer window of 2005 and made 324 appearances in all competitions for the north London club. His brother Andy spent a decade at Hull (2003-13), winning promotions from the bottom tier of English football to the Premier League.

At the KC Stadium, Dawson will compete with James Chester, captain Curtis Davies, Maynor Figueroa, Harry Maguire and Paul McShane for a starting spot in Bruce’s back three.

This arrival could mark the end of son of the manager Alex Bruce’s spell on Humberside. Reports over the weekend claimed he could be used by his father as a makeweight to conclude a deal for Blackburn Rovers and Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes, as the Tigers are in the market to replace Shane Long.

Selling captain Dawson gives Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino squad space to sign Sevilla and twice-capped Argentina international Federico Fazio, 27. Reports from Spain suggest Tottenham are prepared to pay his reported release clause of around £8m.