Hammers capture Carroll
West Ham United are delighted to announce the permanent signing of Andy Carroll from Liverpool
19.06.2013
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of England international Andy Carroll from Liverpool.
Carroll joins the Hammers on a six-year contract, with an option for a further two in the Club's favour, for an undisclosed, Club record fee after enjoying an outstanding 2012/13 season on loan at the Boleyn Ground.
The marquee signing represents a significant step for the Club as they prepare to move to the 54,000-seater Olympic Stadium in 2016, with Carroll set to play a central role having committed his long-term future to the Hammers.
The 24-year-old England international, who will wear No9 for his new side, netted seven goals for Sam Allardyce's team as West Ham made a strong return to the Barclays Premier League by finishing tenth.
The forward's committed and eye-catching displays in claret and blue quickly established him as a firm favourite among Hammers supporters and he is already looking forward to performing in front of the same adoring fans come the start of the 2013/14 campaign.
"It's fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent," said Carroll.
"The fans, the lads and the Club itself has been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come back here and play football.
"Since the end of the season I've had a lot of time to think, I've missed it and that's why I'm back. Getting promoted the season before last, then finishing where we did - we did great, and it can only get better for us.
"The way the Club's being run, obviously getting the new stadium and everything like that, it's only going up."
Carroll, of course, spent last season on loan at West Ham, scoring seven goals and playing a leading role in many more in 24 Barclays Premier League appearances.
The Gateshead-born star enjoyed a superb 2012/13 and was an influential figure in newly-promoted West Ham's top-half finish.
Having worked under Big Sam before and played alongside captain and close friend Kevin Nolan previously at Newcastle United, Carroll quickly settled into life in east London, enjoying a fantastic debut in a 3-0 home win over Fulham in September.
After a hamstring injury curtailed his progress, a first goal arrived at Tottenham Hotspur in November before he really showed his class after Christmas.
A towering headed winner against Swansea City was followed by a virtuoso display against West Bromwich Albion, capped with an outstanding volleyed finish to completed a 3-1 win.
Further goals arrived at Southampton and Manchester City to further enhance Carroll's reputation and he was rewarded by being named Joint-Chairmen's Player of the Year at the season-ending Awards Dinner and earning an England recall.
Previously, Carroll established himself as one of English football's outstanding young talents during his formative years at Newcastle.
Carroll burst into the Newcastle first-team at the age of 17, making his first-team debut as a replacement for future Hammer Nolberto Solano in a UEFA Cup victory over Palermo on 2 November 2006 - an appearance that made him the youngest-ever player to represent Newcastle in Europe.
After scoring his maiden first-team goal past FIFA World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon in a friendly win over Juventus in July 2007, Carroll embarked on a six-month loan spell with Championship side Preston North End.
On his return to St James' Park, the centre forward forced his way into the Magpies starting XI, scoring on his full home debut with a towering header against West Ham in a 2-2 Premier League draw on 10 January 2009.
The 2009/10 season saw Carroll come into his own as he combined with Nolan to shoot Newcastle to the Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt. The striker finished the campaign as the club's top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions and be voted into the Championship Team of the Year.
At the start of 2010/11, he then took the top-flight by storm, netting a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Aston Villa and eleven goals in just 19 league appearances before completing his record-breaking move to Anfield.
In 2011/12, Carroll collected a League Cup winner's medal as Liverpool beat Cardiff City before returning to Wembley to score the winning goal against Everton to take the Reds into the FA Cup final.
Carroll's performances for Newcastle earned him a senior England debut in a friendly international with France on 17 November 2010. His first senior international goal arrived in a friendly with Ghana at Wembley on 29 March 2011.
The striker's all-round ability saw him named in England's squad for the 2012 UEFA European Championship finals, where he impressed by scoring a trademark header in a group-stage victory over Sweden.
Having earned nine caps and scored twice for his country, Carroll will hope his form for his new Club will see him earn further international recognition in the future with a FIFA World Cup in Brazil on the horizon next summer.