Daily WHUFC News - Marko Arnautovic

West Ham complete signing of Austria star Marko Arnautovic
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce the Club-record signing of Austria
attacker Marko Arnautovic. The talented Arnautovic joins the Hammers from
Stoke City, adding proven Premier League and international quality to Slaven
Bilic's forward line. The 28-year-old, who arrives from Stoke City on a
five-year contract, becomes West Ham's third signing of the summer,
following England goalkeeper Joe Hart and Argentina full-back Pablo
Zabaleta. "It feels special to me to be a West Ham player," said Arnautovic,
who has 62 caps for his country. "Everyone knows that West Ham is a big
Club, with big history and I'm happy to be a part of it now. I can't wait to
get started. "I played against West Ham at the old stadium – I didn't play
last year at the new stadium because I was suspended – but I came to the
game and I can only say it is a massive Club with a lot of fans. "They are
crazy for football and this is what I like. The Club is still growing,
getting better and better and that's why I'm here."

Joint-Chairman David Sulllivan added: "We're delighted to have completed
Marko's transfer from Stoke City. "Alongside Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart we
have brought in three players with vast Premier League experience this
summer, and that was one of our key targets as we look ahead to the new
season. "Marko will bring plenty of quality to our front line and I'm
excited to see him in a claret and blue shirt."

An exciting player capable of opening up the tightest of defences,
Arnautovic has caught the eye, created and taken chances wherever he has
played. After breaking through as a free-scoring teenager at Dutch club FC
Twente, the versatile forward spent a season on loan under Jose Mourinho at
Italian giants Internazionale before joining German side Werder Bremen in
June 2010. The Austrian produced the goods regularly in the Bundesliga,
scoring 16 goals and assisting 13 more in just 84 appearances over three
seasons, including a first senior hat-trick at Hoffenheim in December 2012.
The following year, Stoke City brought him to the Premier League, where his
career continued to flourish under Mark Hughes. In four seasons in the
Potteries, Arnautovic helped Stoke to three ninth-place finishes, with the
Vienna-born forward scoring 26 times and registering 32 assists in 146
games. Arnautovic is also one of Austria's biggest sports stars and has been
a regular for his national team for the past six years. He started all ten
qualifiers and three finals matches at UEFA Euro 2016 and has scored three
times in Austria's opening six 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Everyone at West Ham United would like to wish Marko the best of luck as he
embarks on a new adventure in Claret and Blue at London Stadium.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
10 things you probably didn't know about Marko Arnautovic

Marko Arnautovic was born to a Serbian father and Austrian mother in the
Floridsdorf district to the north of the Austrian capital Vienna

He can speak six languages fluently, including German, English, Dutch and
Serbian.

The 28-year-old was just 16 when he made his senior debut for Wiener
Stadtliga club Floridsdorfer AC in a 1-0 defeat at KSC Ankerbrot on 26
August 2005

He joined Dutch side FC Twente at the age of 17, scoring 49 goals in 56
games at U19 and reserve-team levels before making his debut in 2007

He became close friends with Mario Balotelli when the pair were teammates at
Italian giants Internazionale in 2009/10

The Austrian has scored more goals (five) against German outfit TSG 1899
Hoffenheim than against any other opponent. In English football, he has
bagged three times each against Aston Villa and Sunderland

Arnautovic has also found the net twice in five appearances against West Ham
United – and never ended on the losing side against the Hammers

The winger embarked on 3.4 dribbles per game in the Premier League last
season – more than any other Stoke City player

He has the nickname Arnie in honour of his Austrian compatriot and star of
the Terminator movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Marko Arnautovic becomes just the second Austrian to represent West Ham
United after defender Emanuel Pogatetz, who played for the Hammers for a
short period in spring 2013

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Marko Arnautovic: West Ham sign Stoke City and Austria forward for £20m
BBc.co.uk

West Ham have signed Stoke City and Austria forward Marko Arnautovic for a
club record £20m, which could rise to £25m, on a five-year-deal. The
28-year-old joined Stoke from Werder Bremen four years ago and was just 12
months into a four-year contract with the Potters. He scored seven times in
35 games in all competitions last season. "Everyone knows that West Ham is a
big club and I'm happy to be a part of it. I can't wait to get started," he
said. "It feels special to me to be a West Ham player. They are crazy for
football and this is what I like. The club is still growing, getting better
and better and that's why I'm here."

Arnautovic becomes West Ham's third signing of the summer, following deals
for England goalkeeper Joe Hart and Argentina full-back Pablo Zabaleta.
The Hammers, who confirmed that Arnautovic is their club record signing,
previously broke their record last summer when they signed Andre Ayew from
Swansea for £20.5m.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Marko Arnautovic joins West Ham from Stoke in club-record deal
By Dev Trehan
Last Updated: 22/07/17 7:21pm
SSN

West Ham have completed the signing of Marko Arnautovic from Stoke for a
club-record fee. Arnautovic came through his medical on Friday and becomes
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic's third summer signing following the arrival of
Joe Hart on loan and Pablo Zabaleta on a free transfer. The Austrian
attacker has penned a five-year deal and told West Ham's official website he
cannot wait to play for the club's supporters. "It feels special to me to be
a West Ham player," Arnautovic said. "Everyone knows that West Ham is a big
club, with a big history and I'm happy to be a part of it now. I can't wait
to get started. "I played against West Ham at the old stadium - I didn't
play last year at the new stadium because I was suspended - but I came to
the game and I can only say it is a massive club with a lot of fans. "They
are crazy for football and this is what I like. The club is still growing,
getting better and better and that's why I'm here."
West Ham co-chairman, David Sullivan, added: "We're delighted to have
completed Marko's transfer from Stoke City. "Alongside Pablo Zabaleta and
Joe Hart we have brought in three players with vast Premier League
experience this summer, and that was one of our key targets as we look ahead
to the new season. "Marko will bring plenty of quality to our front line and
I'm excited to see him in a claret and blue shirt."
Arnautovic scored 26 goals during four seasons at Stoke after joining the
club from German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in 2013. He has won 62 caps
for Austria and played in all three of his country's matches at Euro 2016.
The 28-year-old has already registered three goals for Austria in their
opening six 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com