Keane makes speedy Tottenham return
Monday, February 2, 2009
Article summary
Robbie Keane has become the third player to rejoin Tottenham Hotspur FC in January, following the examples of Pascal Chimbonda and Jermain Defoe by sealing a return just six months after leaving for Liverpool FC.
Article top media content
Article body
Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane has returned to Tottenham Hotspur FC from Liverpool FC after just six months at Anfield.
Quick stay
Tottenham have paid a reported €16.5m fee for the 28-year-old striker who has agreed personal terms after passing a medical. Keane struggled to make an impact at Liverpool after his €25m arrival from White Hart Lane in July – scoring five goals in 19 Premier League appearances – and was left out of the Reds' squad for Sunday's 2-0 home win over Chelsea FC. "It was a difficult decision to make to leave Tottenham in the summer," Keane said. "It proved not to be the right move for me."
Trio return
He becomes the third player to rejoin Tottenham within a year of leaving the club following Jermain Defoe and Pascal Chimbonda who are back at White Hart Lane after signing from Portsmouth FC and Sunderland AFC respectively last month. Keane scored 80 goals in 197 top-flight games for Spurs in his first stint at the north London club and joins a side 14th in the table, just a point above the relegation zone.
Defoe injury
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Defoe will undergo surgery on Tuesday after picking up a stress fracture to his right foot in training. He is expected to be out of action for ten weeks, ruling him out of this month's UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie against Ukraine's FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
