Tottenham have signed Bulgarian international striker Dimitar Berbatov from Bayer Leverkusen for €16 million, subject to a work permit.

The 25-year-old, who was the second highest scorer in the Bundesliga in the recently concluded season with 21 goals in 34 games, has agreed personal terms.

Berbatov has also had a prolific international career, scoring 31 goals in 50 senior internationals, and was voted Bulgarian player of the year in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

He told Tottenham's official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.co.uk: "Tottenham are a club that are building something special. The squad has some terrific young players, an excellent manager and coaching staff and I am looking forward to playing my part."

The striker made his debut for CSKA Sofia as an 18-year-old in the 1998/99 season but he started to make his name in the following year when he scored 14 goals in 27 league games.

A run of nine goals in 11 games in 2000-01 was enough to persuade Leverkusen to sign Berbatov in June 2001 and he appeared in the Champions League final against Real Madrid at the end of that season.

Berbatov made his international debut at the tender age of 18 in November 1999 and scored with his first touch in a competitive game in a World Cup qualifier against Denmark a year later.

In qualification for Euro 2004 Berbatov scored five goals in six games.