West Ham sign FM legend Behrami

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/7521732.stm

West Ham have signed Switzerland international Valon Behrami from Lazio in a £5m deal.

Behrami, 23, can play at right-back or on the right side of midfield and has signed a five-year contract.

He started all of Switzerland's games at Euro 2008 and the Hammers had to beat off interest from clubs in England and Germany to complete the deal.

Behrami has 15 caps and was a regular for Lazio, playing for the Rome side in last year's Champions League.


He said:"It's my dream come true to play for West Ham and play in the Premier League.

"At last I am able to sign. After the Euro 2008 Championships I spoke to West Ham who had expressed an interest but I had to be sure it was the right thing for everybody.

"I have now made my decision and am looking forward to being part of this side and playing in the English league."

West Ham's chief executive Scott Duxbury insists the signing of Behrami shows that reports of the club struggling to find the finances to strengthen the squad this season are nonsense.

He said: "Valon is a player who will a valuable addition to the squad as we aim for a successful season ahead.

"His signing also indicates the club's positive ambitions. Contrary to some reports we are fully committed to strengthening the playing staff.

"There will not be a mass exodus and fans can be assured we are working as hard as always to ensure high-calibre competition in all areas of the team."

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this guy is awesome on FM. I almost always sign him as utility full back/winger. Now West Ham will have him and all the trimmings

...great signing.

going on what the squad looks like currently (and assuming everyone's fully fit!), how do you see your team lining up this season, HamFans?

3/4 more signings on the way...a few fringe players leaving.

Boa Morte, Davenport, Spector, Quashie all said to be leaving...Solano, Wright, Pantsil and Zamora already gone.

Bresciano is next on the list...where he'll play I don't know. But I can only think this would mean one of Mullins, Bowyer or Etherington are on their way...

I think Kieron Dyer might be used on the left/centre...

Curbishley will sign another striker too...to push Ashton and Bellamy...

--------------------Green--------------

Behrami/Neill---Neill/Ferdinand/Gabbidon---Upson---McCartney

Behrami/Faubert/Ljungberg---Parker---Noble/Dyer/Bowyer---Dyer/Ethers/Ljungberg

---------------------------Ashton---Bellamy--------------

I don't have a clue how the starting X1 will look currently, or after the transfer window.

Still not sure about McCartney.

Sell him to Rangers, (I think they were interested at one point) and sign Shorey.

McCartney was our runner up for player of the year...he's alot better than Shorey. Shorey was roasted both times we played Reading...and looked rubbish throughout the season. McCartney was fantastic, and links up with the left winger ever so good.

I'd rather have McCartney starting than Shorey any day...

7+ English players in the predicted starting XI

nice

West Ham must have a huge wage bill.

Dunno what Obi will make of this

Giovani Dos Spurs wrote:Dunno what Obi will make of this

(obi)

Mozart on grass wrote: Rafa should have been in for him. Woulda sorta been like Benayoun, Pennant and Kuyt wrapped into one 'sigh'.

a stalker says what?

He's a good player, but it is another gamble. As far as i know he is quite injury prone. West Ham have surely taken our 'most crocks in squad' crown.

He looked decent at the Euros. Though, I've not seen anything else of him

looked athletic and strong. like he could bomb up and down the line each day. is Degen just as good then?

Calidad wrote:He looked decent at the Euros. Though, I've not seen anything else of him

looked athletic and strong. like he could bomb up and down the line each day. is Degen just as good then?

He must've been injured, because I don't remember him playing at any poit. Though I remember him from WC'06...

Giovani Dos Spurs™ wrote:

Calidad wrote:He looked decent at the Euros. Though, I've not seen anything else of him

looked athletic and strong. like he could bomb up and down the line each day. is Degen just as good then?

He must've been injured, because I don't remember him playing at any poit. Though I remember him from WC'06...

I vaguely remember him coming off the bench, getting excited thinking "that's my FM guy!" and then he did nothing. But he does play for Switzerland. That said, next season he will be playing for West Ham - the Switzerland of English football.

he was Switzerland's best player against Turkey, how can you not remember?

He started every game on the Right of Midfield, and was brilliant there too.

Very good player, very good purchase. Always kept Mancini in his pocket.

Black Magic wrote:he was Switzerland's best player against Turkey, how can you not remember?

He started every game on the Right of Midfield, and was brilliant there too.

Very good player, very good purchase. Always kept Mancini in his pocket.

Not Behrami, Degen

I think Degan played against us one year in the UEFA cup..but it could've been his twin brother, Degan.

He was $h!t anyway.

Degen isn't in Switzerlands first team, that's why he didn't play.

Deano-West Ham United wrote:3/4 more signings on the way...a few fringe players leaving.

Boa Morte, Davenport, Spector, Quashie all said to be leaving...Solano, Wright, Pantsil and Zamora already gone.

Bresciano is next on the list...where he'll play I don't know. But I can only think this would mean one of Mullins, Bowyer or Etherington are on their way...

I think Kieron Dyer might be used on the left/centre...

Curbishley will sign another striker too...to push Ashton and Bellamy...

--------------------Green--------------

Behrami/Neill---Neill/Ferdinand/Gabbidon---Upson---McCartney

Behrami/Faubert/Ljungberg---Parker---Noble/Dyer/Bowyer---Dyer/Ethers/Ljungberg

---------------------------Ashton---Bellamy--------------

I don't have a clue how the starting X1 will look currently, or after the transfer window.

Yes please

Kimbo wrote:Degen isn't in Switzerlands first team, that's why he didn't play.

silly Geordie

please refrain from submitting your silly Geordie guesswork as though it were fact.

Degen was injured in the back end of last season and wasn't expected to play in the first game. He didn't recover in time for the 2nd game and wasn't risked for the final dead rubber fringe side against Portugal's fringe side.

Glenn Hysén wrote:

Kimbo wrote:Degen isn't in Switzerlands first team, that's why he didn't play.

silly Geordie

please refrain from submitting your silly Geordie guesswork as though it were fact.

Degen was injured in the back end of last season and wasn't expected to play in the first game. He didn't recover in time for the 2nd game and wasn't risked for the final dead rubber fringe side against Portugal's fringe side.

He was on the bench for every game, available to play.

silly Geordie guesswork

Who gives a f@ck anyway? Switzerland are shite and he's going to be back up for you lot. The guy is probably going to fade into oblivion and leave after a couple of years.

more SGG Keep it coming