West Ham United Football Club News

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35,595

Hammers seal Ilunga signing

15 Apr 2009 - 13:53:51

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West Ham United have completed a permanent deal with Toulouse to sign left-back Herita Ilunga on a contract running until the summer of 2013.

The 27-year-old DR Congo international joins the Hammers for an undisclosed fee, having impressed while on loan at Upton Park this season, scoring twice in 33 appearances.

Ilunga told the club's official website: "It is a great joy for me to have signed permanently for a club that believed in me and gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League.

"My goal is to keep developing as a player here, working for the manager and his staff. I am very happy to be here and there is a great atmosphere with my team-mates.

"The fans here are incredible because they are always behind the team. Sometimes they help us to get the victories, but even when we lose they are always there for us.

"They have played an important part this season and we hope to give them a special present at the end of this season by qualifying for Europe."

Chief executive Scott Duxbury added: "Having agreed everything with Herita at the turn of the year, it is great that we have been able to finalise his transfer from Toulouse.

"He has performed tremendously for us this season and Gianfranco Zola was clear he wanted us to keep him for the long term."