JOE HART SAYS he’s looking forward to playing in the Premier League again after completing his season-long loan move to West Ham United.
After completing a medical on Monday, the England goalkeeper joins the Hammers from Manchester City with the deal including an option to buy.
Hart has two years remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium but City manager Pep Guardiola had told the 30-year-old he had permission to find a new club after spending last season with Torino.
West Ham will have the option to secure Hart’s services on a permanent basis at the end of the 2017/18 campaign for a reported £15 million.
“It’s important for me to play football and to get the opportunity to come here and play is absolutely awesome,” Hart said.
“To be playing in the Premier League for a big club like West Ham, I’m really looking forward to the season.
“I’ve always loved the Club. I think you’ll struggle to find anyone, apart from the direct opposing fans around London, who doesn’t love the Club. It’s got something about it, it’s got a lot history and I’ve always loved playing against West Ham.
“We’ve moved into London Stadium and we’ve got Slaven in charge who I’ve spoken to and I’ve always enjoyed as a manager. He obviously did a good job with Croatia and he’s doing a good job here, so to get the opportunity to come here, it wasn’t really a hard decision.”
Hart made 39 appearances in Serie A last season after moving to Italy on loan having fallen behind Claudio Bravo in Guardiola’s pecking order. He had been first choice at City for the previous six years after arriving from Shrewsbury Town.
Hart’s arrival is bad news for Ireland international Darren Randolph who now faces an uncertain future at the London Stadium. Newcastle and Middlesbrough have reportedly registered their interest in the Bray native.
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39 appearances in Serie A? He done well considering there are only 38 games
@Kobe: He always gave 110%
@Niall Martin: your maths are as bad as your jokes, surely that should be 102.6%
@William Boland: I bet you’re the funniest guy at the party
@William Boland: The fact you actually bothered
@William Boland: thanks William, jokes are always funnier when someone takes the time to explain them.
This particular Joe Show is, when it comes to ability and dependability a No Show
Pep is a clown for spending £34 million on a goalkeeper Joe Hart was a very good goalkeeper for City
There wasn’t exactly a mad scramble amoung any half-decent club for this “very good goalkeeper” though was there? That should tell you all ya need to know.
The only thing u can depend on with Joe Hart is that he is undependable
His career is hardly what you would call dead. He’s just not Pep’s first choice as he refers keepers with passing and distribution.
If a dead career is playing a full season in italy and then being west hams number 1 then sign me up.
@@aidoroch: I agree. The way people have talked about Torino since Hart went there. As if they were not once European giants. Its not Serie B, for fck sake. West Ham are in the Top 20 Wealthiest clubs in Europe.
Today is a very slow news day for sport.
@Gerry W: Hi Gerry, you must be delighted to be back playing competitive sport again after all those months out injured?
@Flembomb: ah there’s the old flembomb we all love and missed!
@Flembomb: great to be back flembomb its a slow week for sport hows the fitness at the min
He never had the making of a varsity athlete.
West Ham are running amok this week. Everton spent big on unproven talent, west ham look like they are buying real players.
@Brian: such as?
@William Motley: Hart, Chicharito, Arnaotovic all looking like done deals
@Brian: Jeez… Deals only Sky Sports could hype
@Seriously: Proven premier league players. Deals agreed for 2/3 of those now.
There is hope for us all.