West Ham United have completed the signing of Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks on a free transfer.

The 25-year-old right-back signs a 4-year-deal with the Hammers, leaving Craven Cottage where he spent 3 years and made over 100 appearances at.

The Englishman recently helped Fulham win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, but with his contract expiring at the end of the month, West Ham were quick to snap him up as new manager Manuel Pellegrini’s first signing.

“It’s an exciting time for West Ham,” said Fredericks. “The club have just brought in a new manager and everyone knows his CV and what he has done.

“It just felt like, for the next step of my career, I would be best suited coming here.”

Manager Manuel Pellegrini praised the signing, saying: “Ryan has good experience, with more than 150 senior appearances already but, at 25, he is still a young player with his best years ahead of him.”
[Quotes via BBC Sport]

Fredericks becomes West Ham’s first signing of what promises to be a busy transfer window for the London club. It looks as if Javier Pastore is the Hammers’ next target, with only the player’s wages standing in the way of a deal.