MADRID, Jan 15 (AFP) - Danish international midfielder Thomas Gravesen completed his 2.5-million-pound move to Real Madrid from Everton on Friday and admitted the transfer represented a dream opportunity to win trophies.
The 28-year-old, who has been signed by the Spanish giants to add a little steel to their midfield soft centre, put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half year deal after spending four years with Everton whom he joined from Hamburg.
"I am very happy to be here," said the Dane.
"It is a dream to come to the greatest club in the world and I am very proud. I have come here to win trophies and I will give everything to do that."
Real president Florentino Perez, who has seen striker Fernando Morientes move to Everton rivals Liverpool for 6.3-million pounds this week, said Gravesen would make a major difference to the side and give the team added bite.
"Gravesen is the player we were missing. We have signed Denmark's best player. I am sure he is going to do some great things this season.
"Those who know him say he's a fighter, a guy with a competitive instinct," Perez said.
The club said Gravesen "will play for Real Madrid for the remainder of the season and three more years."
Everton manager David Moyes said he was disappointed to lose a player who has been instrumental in the Merseysiders' push for a Champions League place this season.
But Gravesen, who would have been out of contract at the end of the season, could have left for nothing in the summer.
"We didn't want to lose him. We had a right to turn around and say, 'You're not going'," Moyes told the Everton official website.
"But we've taken 3.5million euros, plus a 20% sell-on fee and a buy-back clause for him - plus one or two odds and ends to go on top of that deal.
"So with six months of his contract to go, with a player who wants to leave, it was the best deal we could get out of the situation."