Bent completed the formalities of the deal yesterday and Spurs are waiting to announce the arrival of the England striker, bolstering Martin Jol's attack for next season.

The fee is understood to start at around £15million rising towards the £17million Charlton were looking for, smashing the £11million record Spurs paid for Sergei Rebrov.

Bent's 15 goals last season could not prevent Alan Pardew's men escaping the drop and the 23-year-old's move from The Valley had been anticipated since defeat by Spurs when relegation was sealed in the final week of the campaign.

West Ham made the first move for Bent but he turned down the chance to be reunited with Alan Curbishley, who brought him to the Premier League from Ipswich two seasons ago.

The Hammers were willing to pay the £17million Charlton wanted for Bent, with negotiations with Spurs then focusing on getting as close to that figure as possible.

His move will represent a healthy profit on the £2.5million Curbishley invested. Ipswich also stand to earn a chunk of the fee as part of the deal taking the striker to Charlton.

Bent scored 37 goals in his two seasons at The Valley - he reached double figures in the last campaign despite knee problems - which earned him two England caps and made it virtually impossible for Pardew to keep him in the Championship.

He bolsters a Spurs attack that scored more than 60 goals last season, and that was without Mido who is expected to leave White Hart Lane.

Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane were Jol's first choice for the big games, with Jermain Defoe adding 18 goals as the third striker.

The form of Berbatov and Keane means Bent would start at least third choice, while Defoe's chance of first-team opportunities is even less clear.

Jol plans to compete in all cup competitions as well as push Arsenal for a Champions League place, and he spoke last season of the need for four strikers.

Charlton brought Chris Iwelumo and Luke Varney to The Valley in preparation for Bent's departure.