LJUNGBERG ... happy HammerFREDDIE LJUNGBERG has completed a £3.5million move from Arsenal to West Ham. The Sweden midfielder agreed terms on a £60,000-a-week deal, having been told by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger he no longer figures in his first-team plans.Ljungberg said he left Arsenal because of the repercussions from Thierry Henry’s move to Barcelona. He said: “Two years ago when I signed my last contract we talked a lot about the future and about bringing great players to the club. “Despite building the new stadium we wanted to stay top in England and do well in Europe. For me that didn’t really happen. “I stayed because I wanted to stay loyal to Arsenal. But when Henry left this summer it felt like the end for me unfortunately. “I felt like all the unbeaten players had left. I wanted to be loyal but I felt like it was the right time.”
Ljungberg also insisted he was delighted to be joining Eggert Magnusson's Upton Park revolution. He added: “I’m coming here because I want to build a great team. “And why I want to join is because of Magnusson. He wants to bring them forward to be top of the country. “He’s willing to go to the transfer market to buy top players and mix them with youth players. West Ham have a great academy. “He wants to help take the club up and take them to the top in England. It’s a big challenge for me.”
Ljungberg had also been linked with Manchester City, Portsmouth and Italian club Fiorentina. But he was not keen on leaving London and West Ham boss Alan Curbishley swooped after losing £6m Julien Faubert with a serious Achilles injury last week.
The Swede joins new arrivals Faubert, Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy and Richard Wright at Upton Park this summer. Curbs said: “He brings a few things - Champions League experience, captain of Sweden, he’s versatile. “There’s a hunger there. He wants to come and push West Ham on and be partly responsible for that. “He’s joining another terrific club and that’s the way he’s got to see it. “He understands the passion of the club and the passion of the fans and I’m sure he’ll be a big hit here.”
