Liverpool’s Downing off to Hammers
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, August 14, 2013
West Ham United yesterday announced the signing of England international winger Stewart Downing from English Premier League rival Liverpool for an undisclosed fee.
Downing, 29, has signed a four-year contract with the east London club and follows striker Andy Carroll in moving from Liverpool to Upton Park.
"I'm very excited. It's a great opportunity for me being here, it's a great club and I'm really excited to get going," Downing told the club's official website.
"I'm ready and I'm fit for the first game against Cardiff City (on Saturday). I've played a decent few games for Liverpool in preseason, so there will be no problems on that front."
The left-footed wide player becomes West Ham manager Sam Allardyce's fifth new signing of the close season, after Carroll, Romania captain Razvan Rat, Spanish goalkeeper Adrian and midfielder Danny Whitehead.
Liverpool has reportedly made a relatively meager 21 million pounds (US$32.5 million) from the sales of Carroll and Downing to West Ham.
Both players joined Liverpool in 2011, with Downing costing a reported 20 million pounds from Aston Villa and Carroll setting the Reds back 35 million pounds after arriving from Newcastle United.
Carroll spent last season on loan at West Ham.
Elsewhere, Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh has ended his Arsenal nightmare by joining Crystal Palace on a one-year deal, the English Premier League newcomer said in a statement on Monday.
Chamakh arrived at Arsenal on a free transfer from French club Girondins Bordeaux in 2010, but never established himself at the Emirates Stadium, scoring eight league goals in 40 appearances.
The 29-year-old was loaned to West Ham in January but only played three times.
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