WHUFC.com
West Ham United have completed the signing of versatile midfielder Gary
O'Neil on a permanent contract
24.01.2011
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Gary
O'Neil. The 27-year-old arrives on a two-and-a-half year contract from
npower Championship side Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee. The
midfielder described his move as "coming home", having been brought up in
London and spent two years learning his trade in the Hammers Academy in his
early teens, working with Tony Carr and his staff. O'Neil was also well
known to Avram Grant and coaches Paul Groves and David Coles from his time
at Portsmouth and also played alongside Scott Parker and Carlton Cole in his
England Under-21 days. After a late-night medical and signing his paperwork
on Tuesday morning, he will be eligible for Wednesday night's Carling Cup
semi-final return at Birmingham City. He said: "I am really pleased to sign.
It all happened very quickly. I played for Middlesbrough at the weekend and
didn't know anything was going to happen. It has all gathered pace since
then. There was also a big rush to do it quickly when they realised I wasn't
cup-tied. "I enjoyed my time at Middlesbrough, the fans and staff were
really good but it has been difficult time on the pitch. It is nice to be
back in the Premier League and play at the top level, which everyone wants
to do. I am London born so it is good to come home. "It is great that the
club have such a massive game to look forward to. I haven't trained yet with
the team so it is up to the manager of course if he wants to use me. I will
take it one step at a time but it is a big game and it could be a case of
straight in at the deep end if involved. "I've watched the team a lot this
season. I know Avram, Grovesy and Colesy from Portsmouth. It is a great side
with top players but they just suffered from a tough start. I know we have
enough quality to get out of it. I have been in a couple of relegation
battles, including at Portsmouth, so hopefully that experience will help.
"It is always a bit nerve-wracking going to a new club but i should settle
in quickly. I did my schoolboy stuff here for a couple of years when I was
13-14 and trained on a Tuesday and Thursday under Tony's staff. It was quite
good and it helped me a lot in my career before I went to Portsmouth."
O'Neill, a versatile and whole-hearted performer capable of playing in the
centre of midfield or on either flank, represents the club's second capture
of the January transfer window following the arrival of Wayne Bridge. The
former Portsmouth trainee has made more than 300 senior appearances in all
competitions, having originally made his Pompey debut at the age of 16 in
January 2000. The 2006 Portsmouth Player of the Year played 192 times in
seven seasons for the south coast club, scoring 17 goals, before signing for
Middlesbrough in a reported £5m deal in August 2007. During his time at
Fratton Park, O'Neil captained the side during their memorable escape from
relegation from the Premier League in 2005/06. O'Neil continued to impress
at the Riverside Stadium, scoring nine goals in 120 appearances over the
past three-and-a-half seasons. At international level, the married
father-of-one was capped by England at every level up to U21, captaining
England at the 2003 FIFA U20 World Youth Championship and making nine
appearances for the U21s. O'Neil will further bolster a Hammers midfield
that contains Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Jonathan Spector, Luis Boa Morte and
is soon to be boosted by the return of Germany international Thomas
Hitzlsperger, who is now training fully with the club's reserve squad.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
O'Neil seals Hammers switch
Boro midfielder on the move
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey Last updated: 25th
January 2011
SSN
West Ham United have completed the signing of Middlesbrough's Gary O'Neil
for an undisclosed fee. Boro agreed terms with The Hammers on Monday, and he
has wasted little time in passing a medical and finalising his move. O'Neil
has penned a two-and-a-half year deal at Upton Park, and could be in line to
make his debut in their Carling Cup semi-final second-leg at Birmingham City
on Wednesday as he is not cup-tied. The fee is undisclosed, although it is
understood to be up to £1.2million.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment