Defoe swapped for Zamora

The transfer was the biggest of the final day of the winter transfer window with West Ham confirming the move took place minutes before the window closed at 1700 GMT.

Defoe, 21, was West Ham's top scorer when they were relegated from the premier league last season.

Zamora, who joined Spurs from for 1.5 million pounds from Brighton last summer, has failed to score a premier league goal for the north London side. His only goal for the club came against West Ham in a League Cup tie in October.

Meanwhile, Leeds confirmed the collapse of the Robinson deal:

"With regard to speculation over Paul Robinson joining Spurs, I can confirm that preliminary discussions did take place between the clubs and the player but no agreement was reached," said Leeds chief executive Trevor Birch.

"Paul is looking forward to staying at the club and playing his part in the fight for Premiership survival."

Earlier on Monday Leeds said that Robinson would join Spurs for a fee in excess of two million pounds ($3.62 million). Robinson, who has four England caps, is regarded as the long-term future England goalkeeper and Spurs were keekn to sign him as their only experienced goalie is 34-year-old American Kasey Keller.

Leeds are more than 80 million pounds in debt and chief executive Trevor Birch needs five million pounds to keep the bottom-of-the-league club afloat until the beginning of next season.

On Thursday, the players agreed to a wage deferral of over 20 percent, saving the club millions.

Leeds also said that their striker Michael Bridges would join Newcastle United on loan until the end of the season, with Stephen Caldwell moving to Leeds from Newcastle.

Another player to leave St James Park is Democratic Republic of Congo captain Lomana Lua Lua who joins Portsmouth albeit only on a three month loan deal.

With Juninho proving successful this season, Middlesborough have added to their Brazilian contingent by signing fellow World Cup winner Ricardinho on a free transfer until the end of the season. The former Bordeaux, Corinthians and Sao Paulo player was a free agent.

Birmingham City have signed defender Martin Taylor from premier league rivals Blackburn Rovers for 1.25 million pounds ($2.28 million).

The 24-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half year deal, Birmingham said on Monday.

Former Portugal defender Abel Xavier has joined Hanover 96 and signed a contract with the German Bundesliga side until June 2005.

Xavier, sporting a black and white striped hairdo, joined three other recent signings -- American Clint Mathis, Jaime of Spain and Vladimir But of Russia at a news conference in Hanover on Monday.

The 31-year-old had previously been on loan to Galatasary from Liverpool, who had bought him from Everton.