Everton land Heitinga, Spurs sign Kranjcar on deadline day

Everton signed Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga from Atletico Madrid for six million pounds (6.8 million euros) just before the transfer window shut on Tuesday.

Heitinga agreed a five-year contract with the Premier League club and the move was announced in the final hour before the 1600GMT deadline.

The 25-year-old follows French defender Sylvain Distin to Goodison Park as Toffees boss David Moyes strengthens his back-four after Joleon Lescott’s move to Manchester City.

Atletico could eventually receive seven million pounds (7.8 million euros) for the Holland international due to clauses in the terms of the deal.

On a relatively low-key transfer deadline day, Tottenham swooped for Portsmouth’s Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp moved for Kranjcar, who cost a reported 2.5 million pounds (2.8 million euros), after Croatian playmaker Luka Modric suffered a broken leg, which will keep him out for six weeks, against Birmingham on Saturday.

Aston Villa spent five million pounds (5.8 million euros) to sign Wales defender James Collins from West Ham.

Collins put pen to paper on a four-year contract and could make his debut against local rivals Birmingham on September 13.

“It’s been a mad 24 hours since coming up here but I’m delighted to have it all sorted. It’s a fantastic setting. I just can’t wait to get cracking now,” Collins said.

“Aston Villa is a massive club so, after coming here looking around the place it didn’t take a lot of persuading on my part.”

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart made a triple swoop for Watford centre-back Mike Williamson, Manchester City defender Tal Ben Haim and Benfica midfielder Hassan Yebda.

Israel international Ben Haim agreed a four-year contract and his free transfer will be rubber-stamped once he has been given a work permit.

The 27-year-old joins a team who are bottom of the Premier League after four successive defeats but he is determined to help them climb out of the relegation zone.

“It is a big challenge because after four games we have no points but I am ready for the challenge,” Ben Haim said.

Hart could pair Ben Haim with Williamson, who cost three million pounds (3.8 million euros) from Championship club Watford and agreed a four-year contract.

“He’s a young, hungry centre-half, a big lad who is uncompromising and does the basics first,” Hart said of Williamson.

Hart also landed Yebda from Portuguese club Benfica. The 25-year-old French-born Algerian has moved to Fratton Park on a season-long loan.

Elsewhere, Stoke City signed defender Danny Collins from Sunderland for 2.75 million pounds (3.1 million euros), although the fee for the 29-year-old could rise to 3.5 million pounds (3.9 million euros)

Bolton bolstered their forward line by signing Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic, 29, on a one-year loan from French club Nantes.

Wanderers boss Gary Megson said: “His goalscoring record is very good and he has an excellent pedigree at international level with Croatia and domestically in Europe.”

Birmingham signed Finland midfielder Teemu Tainio, 29, on loan from Sunderland for the rest of the season.

Hull boss Phil Brown increased his defensive options by landing Senegal centre-back Ibrahima Sonko, 28, on a season-long loan from Stoke.