Diarra - I could not turn down Real Madrid

(CNN) -- Lassana Diarra admitted the lure of Spanish giants Real Madrid was too great to turn down after completing his "dream" switch to the Bernabeu from Portsmouth.

Diarra was presented as Madrid's newest addition on Monday after passing his medical and penning a contract that ties him to the Primera Liga champions until 2013.

The France international, who will cost his new employers in the region of £20 million, had also been linked with Manchester City but the 23-year-old revealed he could not say no to Madrid.

"I couldn't turn down Real Madrid's offer. It's a dream that I've had since I was small and now I'm in the Spanish capital I want to give everything on the pitch," said Diarra, who will officially become a Madrid player on January 1.

"I've come here to give 100 per cent. I'm looking forward to defending the Real Madrid colours. I have a strong personality and I want to prove my worth to my new fans."

Diarra is the third recent addition to the Madrid squad as the club looks to overcome a crippling injury list and get their bid for a hat-trick of title successes back on track.

Over the last few months, Madrid have lost Ruud van Nistelrooy, Mahamadou Diarra and Ruben de la Red to season-ending injuries, while a host of other players have been ruled out for varying periods of time -- a series of setbacks that has seen the team end the year 12 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.

In a bid to resolve that situation, Madrid have brought in Klaas Jan Huntelaar from Dutch outfit Ajax for a fee that could rise to 27million euros and recalled Daniel Parejo from his loan spell at English Championship club Queens Park Rangers.

Diarra is the latest player to be brought in and he is likely to take over the role of holding midfielder previously held by his namesake Mahamadou prior to injury.

The 23-year-old has already played for four different clubs -- starting off at Le Havre before going on to represent Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth.

Diarra did not make more than 40 senior appearances for any of the three Premier League clubs, but he insists he is ready to take the next step up to play for the nine-times European champions, who are now coached by former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos.

"For four or five years I have been at great clubs, such as Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as the French national team, and I'm ready to play for Real Madrid," he said. "

At Chelsea I was young and it was not easy to be able to play in a team with so many experienced players. I have matured at Portsmouth and I think I'm capable of competing."