South Africa’s Steven Pienaar rejected a Chelsea offer and joined Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.

“We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Everton and Steven Pienaar for the player’s transfer to the club,” Tottenham said in a statement on their website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com).

The 28-year-old had also negotiated with Premier League champions Chelsea about a move to Stamford Bridge, but Spurs boss Harry Redknapp confirmed he had chosen to move to White Hart Lane.

“He had talks with Chelsea and he had talks with us and he has decided to come to us,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

Pienaar joined Everton from German side Borussia Dortmund in 2007, initially on loan, before making the move permanent a year later.

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Everton manager David Moyes confirmed that they accepted Chelsea’s offer for Bafana forward Steven Pienaar.

Speaking after Everton’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, Moyes said the club had granted permission for Pienaar’s representatives to enter into talks with Chelsea, but had rebuffed a bid from Tottenham.

“We have accepted an offer from Chelsea. Steven has not agreed terms with Chelsea,” Moyes said. “We’ve given his representatives a chance to talk to Chelsea, but they’ve not got permission to talk to Tottenham because they’ve not offered the same money.”

The likely departure of Pienaar is a blow to Everton, but with the player out of contract at the end of the season, the Toffees had little choice but to cash in during the January window.

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European and Itallian champions Inter Milan and Rafael Benitez are after the signature of Bafana star and current Everton player Steven Pienaar.

Pienaar, who left the country two days ago after an extended holiday following the World Cup has been under the radar of new Inter coach Rafael Benitez, who is believed to instructed Inter president Massimo Moratti to contact the Blues with a view to signing Pienaar.

Pienaar had an impressive run last season where he was also voted Everton’s player of the season. That performance got the attention of a number of major clubs including Liverpool. The player has yet to reach an agreement on a new deal at Goodison and David Moyes is keen to avoid the type of ongoing saga that saw Jolean Lescott leave the club in acrimonious circumstances last season.

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Apart from Tottenham and Chelsea, Liverpool have also joined the hunt for Everton star player Steven Pienaar.

The Bafana Bafana star has stood out in the English Premier League this season and consequently his future has been intensely scrutinised by the British media in recent weeks.

The Daily Mail is the latest publication to chip in with fresh speculation, claiming the Reds are preparing to enter the bidding war for the Westbury-born attacker.

Pienaar, who has a year left on his existing contract with the Toffees, has previously stated he will only decide on his career after the World Cup although his agent, Ivan Mudia, recently suggested otherwise.

Mudia said: “I think Steven would like to know what he is doing next season before the Soccer World Cup.”

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Everton manager David Moyes is sweating over the fitness of South Africa’s Steven Pienaar and veteran midfielder Phil Neville ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Pienaar and former Manchester United star Neville both suffered minor hamstring injuries in Sunday’s 2-0 victory at Fulham and face fitness tests this week to assess their chances of making the Wembley date.

Moyes said: “Neville has a problem with his hamstring as does Pienaar. We’ll have to see how they are – I don’t know about next week yet.

“Phil’s was a little worse than Pienaar’s, I’ll have to see how he is as the week progresses.”

Losing both players would be a massive blow to Moyes but he believes France striker Louis Saha has the potential to frighten Chelsea’s defenders into submission anyway.

Saha is getting back to the form which saw him earn his 12.8 million pounds move to Manchester United from Fulham in 2004.

Moyes saw Saha, 30, turn in a spirited performance against his former club at Craven Cottage.

The Frenchman is now certain for a starting berth against Chelsea given that Everton’s on-loan Brazilian striker Jo is cup-tied for the showpiece final.

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