×

West Ham Signs Song On Loan From Barcelona

English Premier League side, West Ham have completed the signing of Barcelona midfielder, Alex Song, on a season-long loan deal. Song, who struggled to hold … Continue reading West Ham Signs Song On Loan From Barcelona


songEnglish Premier League side, West Ham have completed the signing of Barcelona midfielder, Alex Song, on a season-long loan deal.

Song, who struggled to hold down a regular place at the Nou Camp, following a surprise move from Arsenal in 2012, returns to the Premier League with the Hammers.

Clubs throughout Europe were put on alert when it emerged Song would be allowed to leave Barcelona – with West Ham having won the race to take him to Upton Park on a temporary basis despite reported interest from the likes of Napoli and Galatasaray.

The 26-year-old Cameroon international, who was was introduced to home fans before Saturday’s Premier League game against Southampton, revealed it was a conversation with manager Sam Allardyce that led to his decision to move to East London and he is targeting European qualification.

“When I spoke to the manager, he gave me very good advice,” he told the club’s official website

“I had a very good chat with him and that’s why I am coming here. We have to do better than last season. I think the club has very good ambition and I hope we can maybe catch the European positions, because that would be very good for the club.

“I think it’s great for the fans that the club wants to be one of the biggest in England. That’s why I chose to come here. I always said that if I was to leave (Barcelona) one day I would return to the Premier League.

“It was a very hard decision when you have options of a lot of clubs who are playing in the Champions League, but at the end of the day I chose West Ham because I wanted to come to the Premier League”.

Song, who was impressed by the ambitions of the London club, which will move from the Boleyn Ground to the Olympic Stadium in time for the 2016-17 season, said he was working hard to be at his best when he plays for his new club

“I need some games to be ready and get my fitness back,” he said.

“When I am 100%, I will bring the experience and I will make the fans happy, I am sure. I am lucky to be back in London, back in England and with West Ham. I am looking forward to showing everyone what I can do.

“West Ham is looking to be a very, very big club in the future. The club has a great project and it is a very big project with very big ambition”.

The Cameroonian joined Barcelona in 2012 from Arsenal for about £15m with an 80m euros (£63m) release clause.

He played 206 times for the Gunners between 2005 and 2012 and has made 39 appearances since moving to the Nou Camp.

Song, who won one La Liga title during his spell in Spain, is likely to be West Ham’s final summer signing – taking the total of new recruits to eight.