Friday, June 21, 2013

Andy Carroll Moves To West Ham United

West Ham has confirmed the signing of England striker Andy Carroll from Liverpool for an undisclosed club-record fee believed to be around £15 million.

The 24-year-old, who has scored twice in his nine international appearances, passed a medical at Upton Park and is understood to have inked a six-year deal to the tune of £100,000-a-week deal, meaning the deal will eventually cost the Hammers in the region of £50 million.

Carroll spent last season on loan at the Boleyn Ground, scoring seven times in 24 league appearances in a campaign which was dogged by injury.

"It's fantastic for me to be here," he said on West Ham's website. "I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent.

"Since the end of the season I've had a lot of time to think, I've missed it and that's why I'm back."

The club described Carroll as their "marquee signing" who "represents a significant step for the club".

Liverpool sold Carroll at a significant loss, having bought him from Newcastle for a British-record £35 million on transfer deadline day in January 2011.

He never really fitted in at Anfield despite the best attempts of Kenny Dalglish, the manager who signed him.

Carroll scored 11 times in 58 appearances, but when Dalglish was replaced by Brendan Rodgers last summer it became apparent his chances of regular first-team football would be minimal.

A deal to loan him to West Ham was secured the penultimate day of the transfer window and despite some encouraging performances for the Londoners – which earned him an England recall – it was made clear to the striker Rodgers had not changed his view of him.

"Everybody at Liverpool FC would like to wish Andy all the best for the future," said a statement on Liverpool's website.

Carroll finished last season with a heel injury, which ruled him out of the national team's friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil and could keep him out of the new campaign, which the Hammers start at home to promoted Championship winners Cardiff.

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