France midfielder seals move to Hammers from Olympique Marseille

France midfielder seals move to Hammers from Olympique Marseille

New West Ham United midfielder Alou Diarra has won the Ligue 1 title twice

West Ham have completed the signing of France midfielder Alou Diarra from Olympique Marseille.

The 31-year-old made three appearances for France during UEFA Euro 2012 to take his international cap haul to 44.

Diarra, who joined Bayern Munich as a 19-year-old and signed for Gerard Houllier's Liverpool in 2002 without making an appearance for the Reds, won the league in France with Lyon and Bordeaux after a spell at Lens.

"I am excited to be here at this club and to be playing for them in the Premier League"
- Alou Diarra

The powerful combative midfielder, who appeared in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, also has extensive European experience having made 27 UEFA Champions League appearances.

"I am very happy to be here at West Ham," Diarra told the club's official website. "Everything is signed now, which is good, and I am excited to be here at this club and to be playing for them in the Premier League.

"I know a lot about West Ham as a club and when I knew they were interested in signing me, I was very happy and knew it would be a good choice for me.

"We are a Premier League club and I know of players who were here before like Paolo Di Canio and Scott Parker, but of the players now in the team, I know Guy [Demel], Mo [Diame] and of course, Modibo Maiga, who played in the French league last year.

"The club has just been promoted and I am looking forward to a good challenge with the team ahead. I see this as my chance in the Premier League to do well with West Ham. I hope that my experience can help and the fans will see me give my all in the matches."

Source : Premierleague.com