Lewis Holtby 'living the dream' at Tottenham

German signed from Schalke during the January transfer window

New Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby says he is on cloud nine since arriving in the “motherland of football” just a week ago.

Holtby has already played twice for Spurs since joining from Bundesliga club Schalke, and says his feet have not touched the ground since he arrived in London.

"I have been living my dream for the past few days," he said. "I am playing at an absolute top club in the Premier League."

Holtby, whose father is English, had never made a secret of his desire to play in England, although his transfer came sooner than he had expected, but not soon enough for his liking.

"It has been overwhelming since arriving in the motherland of football," he wrote in his blog published on http://www.fussball.de.

"The day the transfer went through, I left for London with just a small suitcase and a few hours later, I was already on the Tottenham training ground, getting the traditional kick up the backside from my new team mates by means of welcoming me.

"That's the way things are here in London - hard but hearty."

The Germany under-21 captain has not taken long to settle in, making a good impression in his first two appearances.

That, according to the 22-year-old, is because he was made for English football.

"I realised immediately that the speed and the toughness really is different here to the Bundesliga," he continued.

"It's no place for the faint-hearted and the referees don't blow the whistle as often.

"The game is brutally hard, but that suits me and I really love it. I also loved my second game for Spurs, in which a dream goal from Gareth Bale meant I could celebrate my first win.

"I will never forget this game against West Brom. The fans sang a song for me for almost all of the second half.

"It was incredible and I really had goosebumps. I had never expected such support so soon.

"I've just been in England a week and they already have a song for me, who would have thought it?"

PA