Holtby speeds up Tottenham transfer, moving now

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) -Schalke says Lewis Holtby will move to Premier League club Tottenham immediately after it agreed with the Germany midfielder to move forward his transfer.

Holtby agreed earlier this month to move to Tottenham in July on a free transfer after rejecting an extension of his contract at Schalke, which expired at the end of the season. But Schalke says the Bundesliga club has now agreed to terminate the 22-year-old player's contract early so he can make the move now.

Schalke general manager Horst Heldt says that it was "the best solution for all concerned.'' He says that Schalke received "a decent amount'' for the transfer by advancing the move but didn't give a specific figure.