LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of Brazil defender Gilberto from Hertha Berlin just before the close of the transfer window on Thursday.

The deal had appeared to have fallen through earlier in the day when the 31-year-old Gilberto failed a medical but Tottenham's Web site (www.tottenhamhotspur.com) later said it had been rescued. No transfer fee was disclosed.

The club also announced that defenders Paul Stalteri and Anthony Gardner had been allowed to join Fulham and Everton respectively on loan until the end of the season.

"We are delighted to announce we have reached agreement with Hertha Berlin for the transfer of Brazilian international Gilberto," a club statement read.

The left back has spent three and a half years in Germany where he made 101 appearances in the Bundesliga for Hertha after joining from Brazilian club Sao Caetano.

He has won 27 caps for Brazil, played in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and was a member of the Brazil squads that won the 2004 and 2007 Copa America.

Gilberto is the third defender to join the Premier League club in the transfer window after Jonathan Woodgate from Middlesbrough and Alan Hutton from Rangers.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Justin Palmer)