Tottenham signs Benfica's Rocha

Tottenham has agreed to sign Benfica defender Ricardo Rocha.

Photo: Tottenham signs Benfica's Rocha

The Lisbon team announced the transfer on its Web site Tuesday without disclosing the fee.

The 28-year-old Rocha started his career at FC Famalicao and had a stint at Braga before joining Benfica in 2002.

Tottenham confirmed the move, which had been predicted for the past week by British papers.

"Ricardo is an accomplished defender who gives us further options in defense as he can play both in the center and on the right," Tottenham's sporting director Damien Comolli said. "He brings considerable experience to Tottenham having played at the highest level in European competition."

The defender has played six times for Portugal, including in 2008 European Championship qualifiers against Finland, Azerbaijan and Poland, reports AP.

He was part of the Benfica team which won the 2004 Portuguese Cup and 2005 league title.

Rocha will replace Calum Davenport at Tottenham after the central defender joined West Ham last week, and likely provide backup to Ledley King and Michael Dawson.