WHUFC.com
Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has become the first summer recruit
at West Ham United
05.06.2010
West Ham United are delighted to announce the major signing of German
international midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger. The 28-year-old will
officially join the club from 1 July following his departure from Italian
side SS Lazio. Fittingly nicknamed 'The Hammer' in honour of his powerful
left-foot, he is the first new recruit to arrive at the Boleyn Ground this
summer with the club fending off competition from more than a dozen clubs
interested in his services. The highly-rated Hitzlsperger passed a medical
on Saturday before putting pen to paper on a three-year contract that will
see him return to the Barclays Premier League after five seasons away. A
Bundesliga title-winner with VfB Stuttgart, he scored 20 goals in 125
top-flight appearances in Germany. Capped more than 60 times for his country
at Under-21 and senior level, he played a key role in his country's
qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup only to just miss out on a place
in a Germany squad that is expected to be one of the favourites in South
Africa this summer. West Ham United chairman David Sullivan said: "I am
delighted to welcome Thomas to the club. We had to move quickly to secure
his services when he became available, especially as there was
understandably so much interest in him from around Europe and back in
Germany. "I am especially pleased that he is excited by what we are trying
to achieve here at West Ham. Thomas is a top-quality player who I know the
fans will love - and not just because of his nickname. He is a whole-hearted
midfielder with an eye for a goal who gives everything in every match. "He
is the first of many signings this summer. We are going to sign a mixture of
exciting young talent as well as the very best senior pros who can add real
strength to the squad like Thomas. He is still a young man but has massive
experience."
Hitzlsperger began his career with Bayern Munich before joining Aston Villa
at the age of 18 in 2000. The central midfielder was a fans' favourite at
Villa Park, making 114 appearances and scoring 12 goals, before moving back
to his homeland with Stuttgart in summer 2005. The Munich-born player became
an important member of the Stuttgart squad that won the Bundesliga title in
2006/07. He moved to Lazio in January 2010, finishing his Serie A career on
a high with a goal in the 3-1 final-day win over Udinese Calcio.
A former youth international, Hitzlsperger made his full Germany debut in a
2-0 friendly victory in Iran in September 2004. The fluent English speaker
netted his first international goals in a 13-0 UEFA European Championship
qualifying win over San Marino in Serravelle in September 2006, just a few
months after appearing for Germany at the FIFA World Cup in his home
country. Hitzlsperger was a central figure in Joachim Low's squad at the
2008 European Championship, starting all three knockout fixtures as Germany
finished as runners-up to Spain.
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