Leicester sign Walker

Walker joins up with new manager PeterTaylor

Leicester have signed the Tottenham goalkeeper Ian Walker in a deal worth £2.5m rising to £3m depending on appearances.

The 29-year-old agreed a four-year contract at Filbert Street after passing a medical last Friday.

He now becomes one of three senior keepers at Leicester and will battle it out with Tim Flowers and Simon Royce for the number one jersey.

But he said he will not be daunted by the challenge. "I know people will say I have swapped like for like in that I will have to fight for my place here," Walker said.

"The way I see it I needed a new challenge and a change of scenery.

Flowers: Current Leicester number one

"I don't think you can get guarantees anywhere so I was happy to sign for Leicester and show what I can do."

The England international lost his place in the Tottenham side following the arrival of Neil Sullivan last summer and had a transfer request accepted by the club in September.

Walker had made over 311 appearances for Spurs since joining the north Londoners as a trainee in 1988.

"When Neil came in, I didn't get a look in," he said. "It was pretty bad in the end.

"To be fair, his form was tremendous. After being so long at Spurs I felt it was time to revitalize my career."

Foxes manager Peter Taylor is delighted that Walker has moved to Leicester after 13 years with Tottenham.

Taylor said: "I said all last season we could have done with three keepers.

"It's correct to say that I was in the market for another keeper but it was made aware to me Ian was available at a price we could afford and I wanted him here."

Walker lost his place to Sullivan last season and believes at 29 it is the right time to have a new challenge.

Walker will miss the first two games of next season after being sent off in a reserve match last season.