Tottenham Hotspur have announced that the Germany midfielder Lewis Holtby will join the club on a free transfer when his Schalke contract expires in the summer, subject to a medical.

The 22-year-old, who has an English father and is an Everton supporter, had attracted interest from Arsenal but Andre Villas-Boas has secured his signature on a pre-contract agreement with six months remaining on his current deal. Holtby is highly regarded in Germany after captaining the Under-21 side and earning three caps at senior level.

Schalke were keen to tie him down to an extended contract but the player has harboured long-term ambitions of moving to the Premier League. However, given the attention from Tottenham’s north London rivals and reported interest from Liverpool, the transfer will be regarded as a coup at White Hart Lane, where he is understood to have a four-year deal.

Holtby has made 75 appearances for Schalke in all competitions, scoring 11 times for the Gelsenkirchen-based club.