Striker Keane stamps $36M Liverpool deal

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Robbie Keane has finalized a 19 million pounds ($38 million) transfer to Liverpool hours after the Tottenham striker had a medical with the Merseyside club on Monday.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez completed the final stages of negotiations with the Republic of Ireland captain over the weekend, with Keane signing a four-year deal.

The 28-year-old Keane had two years remaining on his Tottenham contract, but joining the club he has supported since boyhood presents him with a chance to play in the Champions League.

"I would like to place on record my thanks to the board, players and fans of Tottenham for the past six years, which were the best and most enjoyable of my career to date," said Keane in a statement.

"I will never forget them. I would specifically like to thank chairman Daniel Levy for understanding, that, as a fan, joining Liverpool is a lifelong dream of mine and one I couldn't let pass me by.

"I hope one day the Spurs fans, who have been brilliant to me, can understand this too.

"I have only good things to say about my time at Tottenham and expect them to go from strength to strength under Juande Ramos and Daniel Levy."

Levy, however, summed up the feelings of his club and the fans when he said: "I was incredibly disappointed when I first heard, not only that Liverpool had been working behind the scenes to bring Robbie to Anfield, but that Robbie himself wanted to go and he submitted a transfer request to this effect.

"I have already made my opinion clear on the nature of this transaction. I don't regard it as a transfer deal -- that is something which happens between two clubs when they both agree to trade -- this is very much an enforced sale, for which we have agreed a sum of £19m as compensation plus a potential further £1.3m in additional compensation."

Keane's six years at Spurs was his longest spell with a team following stints with Wolves, Coventry, Inter Milan and Leeds -- and last season he became the 15th player to hit 100 goals for the north London club.

He helped Tottenham win the League Cup with victory over Chelsea in February at Wembley where his celebratory jig further cemented his status as a popular player with the fans.

Keane could now fly to Spain with the Liverpool squad ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Villarreal.

He became Benitez's top target following the departure of England marksman Peter Crouch to FA Cup holders Portsmouth.

According to the Spurs official Web site "Liverpool FC has also acknowledged that the way its website reported comments of its manager, which were widely covered by the media, was inappropriate and in light of that acknowledgement has apologised and agreed to make a donation to our Club's main charity, the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.

"Tottenham Hotspur has therefore agreed not to pursue its official complaint to the Premier League."

Liverpool have also been in lengthy negotiations for England midfield man Gareth Barry, but are not prepared to meet Aston Villa's valuation.

Keane's Tottenham strike colleague Dimitar Berbatov has also been at the center of transfer speculation, involving Manchester United, since the end of last season.

But the Bulgarian international's hefty price tag also appears to be a problem.

Everton striker Andrew Johnson had a medical at Premier League rivals Fulham on Monday and could move for about $24m (euro15.3 million).

The 27-year-old forward lost his place to Aiyegbeni Yakubu last season and may be about to return to London where he made his name with Crystal Palace.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have signed Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal, according to the club's official Web site.