Brazil midfielder Paulinho has joined Tottenham from Corinthians for a fee of just under £17m, the BBC reports.

Paulinho, who starred in Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph, passed a medical before finalising his contract.

The 24-year-old arrived in London on Thursday and met Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas and chairman Daniel Levy.

"I am very happy and excited to have joined Spurs. It's a huge pleasure for my career to be at a club as big as Tottenham," Paulinho said.

Real Madrid also showed an interest in Paulinho, who has also played for Lithuanian side FC Vilnius and Polish club LKS Lodz.