CHESHUNT footballer Charlie Lee has signed for Peterborough United just days after being released by Tottenham Hotspur.

The highly-rated 20-year-old turned down a number of higher clubs to join the League Two side, citing the club's ambition as the decisive factor.

He told the Mercury: "There was a lot of interest but everything about the club impressed me. It seems like a really good club with great ambition and I'm sure this will be a really big move for me.

"It's always good to be part of a winning team and Peterborough seem like a club who will do well in the league next year. From the chairman down to the manager and players they have great ambition."

After being won over by director of football Barry Fry and manager Barry Ferguson, Lee signed a three-year deal at the club and said his long term future would be at London Road.

He continued: "I spoke to Darren on the phone and he said he sees me as a big part of his squad. If I do get the chance to play first team football then I'm sure I'll take it and do well.

"I haven't had a chance to meet all the squad yet. I can't wait to start training and getting to know the players and staff. This is a really good opportunity for my career."

The prospect of first team football was a big draw for Lee who found his chances at White Hart Lane extremely limited. He never appeared for the first team but made the bench on a number of occasions.

He was loaned out to Championship club Millwall last season where he made six appearances before returning to Spurs.

Having been at Tottenham since he was eight-years-old, during which time he captained the reserves and led them to Barclays Premiership Reserve League glory in 2006, leaving his boyhood club was not easy.

But for the sake of his career a move was necessary and now Lee is focused solely on a new start in League Two. "It was amazing being at Spurs and I was lucky to be there but there was no first team football," he said. "I felt I had to move on and it's excellent to be at Peterborough now."

Posh just missed out on the play-offs last season and will look to be challenging at the top again with a strong push for promotion. "That is the main objective," added Lee. "Hearing what Barry and Darren have been saying, they feel this is a great opportunity.

We've got an excellent team this year and I want to be a part of that. I see no reason why we can't get promoted and now just can't wait for the season to start."

Source: Herts & Essex Mercury