It has just been announced that West Ham have signed Lazio’s German international left sided midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger on a three year deal for an undisclosed fee. The 28 year old started his career in 2001 with Aston Villa, playing 99 games, scoring 8 goals. In 2005 he moved to VFB Stuttgart, playing 125 games, scoring 20 goals. He played a leading part in their championship winning season and in 2008 became captain. In December 2009 he fell out with Stuttgart manager Marcus Babbel and was loaned out to Lazio for whom he played only 4 times for Lazio, scoring one goal. He’s played 51 times for Germany, scoring 6 goals. He didn’t make the German World Cup squad, though.
Hilariously, during his time at Villa Park, he was given the nickname of “Der Hammer”! You couldn’t make it up. A move to the Hammers was therefore seemingly inevitable!
I have to say, I think this is a rather good signing.
Good signing my villa mate dud's still loves him ! More of the same please david's.
would we say major tho?
i wouldn't particulary. He's not actually in the germany world cup squad is he?? Although he seems to like to fire in some long rangers!
I'd imagine there's good quality throughout the German World Cup Squad, they always seem to go far in the tournament so perhaps we shouldn't read to much into his omission.
I mean, Scott Parkers not in the England squad but i reckon he'd be considered a major signing!
I love that 'The Hammer' only played 4 times for Lazio and managed to score once.
Sounds quite a good signing.
considering we almost got relegated and the fact he does actually play for germany and isn't over 31 I'd say yer course it is a major signing. credit where credits due the davids have done well. Next one please!
Me neither but i'd take him over tal ben haim any day.
He didn't make the Germany 23, but neither did Parker and look how good he is.
True!!!
Seriously Guys … how can you be negative abut this signing … Whow would you prefer … Der Hammer or Der Spanner (Kovac)
im not necessarily negative because im not too sure what he can do, so we'll wait and see on that!! but it is Interesting they labelled it a major signing though!
I do like the nickname though!! lol
I'm cool about it, the way you should look at it is…How many of our players have made a large contribution to a top team that won a league title? none that I can think of, thus making us better than we are right now!
This is a great start. Suggests we are aware of balance! Getting more optimistic.
ah so this is the german international the little gobby man was talking about,i remember him at villa.seemed average with a really hard shot.lets wait and see eh but as ive said before we are not gonna sign any real quality players cos we are at present a struggling team
what do you know!!
sorry mate dont understand yr comment,what i do know is a really good chipshop in chingford
great comeback pj
I don't like this speculation that cole and noble are in an advanced stage talks with stoke, wouldn't be happy.
I agree
I hope "Der Hammer" is not Noble,s replacement and that Cole won,t be on the move as well because we can,t change the squad too much and I think that Noble and Cole still have a lot to offer for the future
they are one of the better squad players
I saw that story, it was on a Stoke fansite, just rumours at the moment mate..
He will be West Ham’s talisman by the end of the season. Hes pure quality. This is from a Villa fan. You’ve just pulled off an amazing piece of business, trust me!
I wish we still had him. 
Well I never. Surely this can't be true. Na, must be more gollivan spin.
Bit concerned that we are apparently selling Cole to Stoke in a deal that sees Kitson, who has not done it for Stoke, come to us. Even more concerned Stoke after Noble for a measley £5m – must be the best deal since Villa 'stole' Ginge
I'll have an even 50 that the story is a load of bull.
NOT DAVE KITSON!! AND IM NOT BEING SENTIMENTAL BUT MARK NOBLE IS A HAMMER THROUGH AND THROUGH. DO STOKE SEE US AS THEIR "FEEDER" CLUB OR WHAT?
We've gone from being Chelsea's feeder club to Stokes, poor old Tony Carr must having kittens!
True.. But i have a feeling sullivan will force out one of the 2
The story's bull, don't look in to the rumours too much
im surprised by this signing…very surprised
Can remember him being average.
5m for noble,yes please.
Cole to stoke,nah sorry don't see it.
He would give us balance on left hand side mate…him and Boa Morte make us look more balanced already. For where we are at the moment he is a very good experienced signing at present. Not going to make me stay awake all night drooling but definately worthwhile considering its a free. Good start to our transfer window!!!
yes i have to agree.
now is this a grant signing or sullivan??
Great signing!
Celtichammer the mug and his speculative rubbish about signings and the clubs financial position.
Well done G&S.
Steve, you are a touch aggressive arn't you …. its a blog we have opinions … I think so far you need to log into somewhere else mate … JOG ON x
Who promoted you to I/C of blogging!!
I expect this transaction was well developed prior to Grant signing. I do though expect Grant was happy and agreed with this signing.
Thomas Hitzelburger…excellent signing but a lispers nightmare.
Could be worse, we could of signed khizanishvili..
I reckon sullivan made this signing not sure how well he did at villa but he has been linked with arsenal over the past couple years. not a bad siging considering spurs,everton,stoke ,birmingham etc were after him.. we did well to keep this under wraps so im very suprised. hopefully he is motivated enough to help us climb the table and not back for a payday
1st signing of the summer = Very happy Jolly!
Hitzelsperger is an excellent signing, has premiership experience and, more importantly, is the right side of 30.
well done west ham for keeping this on the shhh shhhh great signing and will score a few
I have to admit to being a bit surprised by this signing. I always thought he was a decent player when at Villa and the fact that we might have a midfielder willing to have a shot is an added bonus.
keep it up.
With him Diamond Geezer & Mr West Ham in midfield we could be seeing some screamers bulging the onion bag next season!!!!!
Very surprised by this signing but am dleighted to have his experience alongside Parker next season. Hope this is the 1st of many names to pass thorugh.
A great new signing. I'm really pleased with it as I don't think we could have got a much better player for our midfield. the fact that he is only 28, has so much premiership and top international experience bodes well for the future.
Let's hope the other signings are equally as good, if not better.
Spot on, all things considered this is a good signing and hopefully a benchmark for the transfer policy.
There's no excuses now Gold & Sullivan, this is your manager now & your allowing the transfers!
oh, and on a free – that still frees up a lot of the transfer cash of other signings.
The fact that it's free makes it a brilliant signing, he's probably worth over 4 million
A very good signing this is. Was a promising young player at villa before moving on to win honours in Germany. As a freebie, this is an excellent way to start the summer but please keep hold of Cole
Apparently he played for Germany in nearly all the qualifiers before being left out of the final squad,a good signing we all hope.
If its a free,thats good business.
Correct me if wrong but I'm sure hes a center mid player,overall a decent signing,someones been doing their homework,just proves there are bargins around if you look hard enough,left footer as well.
LBM Hitzelsperger parker behrami/collison
Left side of center mid Chris and EVERY other center mid player we have is right sided (i.e. right footed). He can also play as an out and out wide man as well as a holding midfielder AND has also played at left back – it's a BRILLIANT signing!
That versatility will come in handy i feel!
I will assume that the silence from CH on this signing is a grudging admittance that G&S have done one good thing for the club at last………………..
Either that or he has a life and is out on the sherberts on a Saturday rather sitting at home typing crap like me and you.
Evening Lofty … I think Celtic might be sulking cos he never made the final of Britains got talent … that was him doing a jig earlier in the week wasn't it
Good evening, Major Tom….Celtic is certainly a skilled tap-dancer, not so sure about his jigging skills.
He gets my vote though for his sheer persistence and fortitude.
On a free!!!! Has LBM actually agreed the extension yet? I just hope it Kovac clearing the way for this and not Noble as is being speculated.
G and S promised a big name and with twelve letters to his this is our biggest name yet!
Seriously though it looks like a promising start to the team rebuilding. Lets hope this is indicative of things to come
I've been doing a bit of research on der hammer, and he's played a big part for any team he's played for. played all the euro 08 games setting up the winning goal in the semi final. I think this is a shrewd bit of business, well done to all those involved.
Watching a video of him on youtube (yes i know its youtube which shows there best moments), he looks like a great signing, remember him at Villa and he did well there, all i can say is if Diamanti stays, we will be spoilt for choice on set pieces, either driven or placed, what more can you want! This seems like a very good signing and hope this continues. I would still like us to sign Ledley. We will see what happens, i am delighted that the official site (whufc) keeps us updated as they mentioned it ealrier on today when we were all guessing who the signing would be. Well i am pleasently surprised and hope that a few more will join the rebuilding of West Ham soon.
I liked comment from chairman on website that TH was 'the first of many signings this summer'
Agreed, with any luck the 1st of a minimum of 5 signings. Brilliant signing in my opinion.
What I liked is that nobody had theslightest inkling until it was done and dusted. The press have had us linked with a couple of dozen players in recent weeks but this was unexpected – exactly how it should be!
Exactly, more of the same would be great, i won't bother guessing any of our signings from now on!
I was expecting pompy only players to come. But after this signing i wont be guessing either !
I doubt we would sign Ledley now Braderz as he is left sided. We have Hitzlsperger, Boa Morta and Diamanti who are all left footers and attacking. I would still welcome the signing, but think we will look at balancing the squad elsewhere now
Yh i guess so, we will have to wait and see.
I agree, the Official Website does seem a lot better now!
Will the announcer blast out a rendition of 'Cant touch this' by MC Hammer if 'The Hammer' smashes home a trademark thunderbolt?lol
haha would be classical!
lovin that suggestion Oz
[...] Der Hammer Signs for the Hammers | West Ham Till I Die [...]
David Sullivan has laid a lot of red herrings since Zola,s friend Eidur did the dirty on a done deal so according to the Mirror he met Avram in London and signed,that is exactly how to do good business,well done keep it up!
Agree with ferkey opinion, let’s not forget that our defence needs to be upgraded!
HOw long before hes injured?!!!!!!!!!!
Kidding!
Can he beat the record of dyer?
I am impressed to say the least, however, I am less impressed with the stories linking both Cole and Noble to stoke … are we lining this new boy and yakuboo as direct replacements ? Kitson is to come as a make weight ? and only £6m in cash with a further £3m in add ons …
I'd let Cole go but for straight double figures … but i believe Noble should be kept … he is home born and bred and one we need to be making vice skipper next season …
Spot on Tom. I'd happily flog Cole for £!0m cash but not Nobby – if he goes it's yet another case of cashing in on the youth products and bringing in lesser quality outsiders. I for one thought he was instrumental in helping keep us up in the last half dozen games.
What happened to the talk of keeping our kids? I've never expected or wanted us to go out and buy success, just wanted us to keep our own. Hopefully it's just paper talk.
I am meeting a couple of Tractor Boy helicopter pilots at the Ipswich friendly after they get back from a tour of Afghanistan. I wish you and them peace.
Agree, I don't really rate Kitson though.. Not sure he's prem standard.
Much encouraged by this signing. Good left sided players can be hard to find at a fair price. That said, we then have to look at the prospective shape of midfield for next season.
Might it be :
TH – Noble – Parker – Behrami (4-4-2) or TH – Diamante – Parker – Behrami or even possibly TH- Diamante – Parker – Noble?
Or could we see TH Noble Parker Diamante Behrami in a 3-5-2.
Boa Morte becomes the stand in of choice for either Cole, Illan or TH (he can play as a striker). Kovac the stand in for Parker (holding role in a 5) or Noble (central or right in a 4). Collison would make good cover for centre & left mid also. That's quite a strong lineup.
If we are to keep Cole, we have to take advantage of his height and strength, which means a proper wide role for TH/Boa Morte, and for possibly Noble/Behrami/Faubert on the right. (Can Noble mould himself as our Beckham, our pinpoint provider on the right – he's certainly young enough to develop into that role if he has the patience and the talent, but it will take a lot of hard work).
Although I liked Zola, I hope that we start to see a change from the narrow style of play and a return to traditional wingers/ sweepers. If you keep putting in the crosses eventually the rewards will come for decent strikers.
S&G have gone up a few notches in my book
So one signing in now, and i feel that it is a very good signing. Who does everyone on here want to see come in next???
i think i would cry if we get Kitson. i would love john Carew, Kevin-Prince Boateng, jody craddock, Onuoha oh and of coures Becks, Henry, joe cole and rooney, oh and maybe the davids could call drogba and see if he wants to come.
No we don't want Drogba, he has broken his arm so i don't think we will go for him haha, Henry, Cole, Becks and Rooney all sound good to me lol. But on a serious note, we should look at bringing in Carew if Cole leaves, would be a great buy, KPB is a very good player who has the pace and skills to succeed in the prem (just don't let him take penalties), Craddock is also a good player and could do well with us, Onouha would br a very good buy and we would be able to guarentee him games. 1 signing in and i hope a few more will coem in shortly too.
This is the best Video link for Thomas Hitzlsperger, some cracking goals on, near enough every one of them is a belter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsHbSOZyHuI
all i will say is youtube can make any player look good. time will tell with da hammer.
I know haha but i can live in hope that he does well for us, he will deffinatley add balance to our squad.
he can certainly hit one!!! Can't Wait!!!
Hopefully, with him in the middle providing us with these long rangers, and the extra wide men we are hopefully going to sign soon, we might get a chance to see diamanti played just behind the striker, he is wasted when he is put on the wing! (Thats if he is even here next season!)
Agreed mate, would love to see Bentley come in and play on the other wing, with Behrami on the left and Parker and TH in the middle, it will be a much better blanced team and we could also use LBM. Options could look alot better for us. Then we could have Diamanti playing just behind Cole, or if we sign another striker, my prefered choice being Roque Santa Cruz who will cost around £8-10m, then we could should Diamanti as an impact substitute. What we need to do is sign 2 defenders, two strikers and 1 more midfielder and if Green leaves, a new goal keeper to replace him.
Good signing IMO
Here's a link to my blog: http://a-funny-old-game.blogspot.com/2010/06/coul… . Advised to create one by Mr Dale
I see the rumours linking us with Yakubu have resurfaced. I do hope that they are unfounded. The last thing we need is another Middlesboro' reject: We have just got rid of the last one. No room for someone who gets 5 goals a season and their best position is on the treatment table. No thank you. Avram should be sorting out the defence first.
Obviously you won't be happy that we are actually now linked with a current M'boro player!
Chuffed and very surprised by the Hitz signing. A good signing in my humble opinion, and I remember him as being a very decent performer, so I really welcome this news. Also at 28, he should be in his prime. I hope he's Kovac's replacement. What a welcome change for us to sign a real 'name'! I'm not getting too carried away but I do feel this is a very positive step, and I hope it heralds some more real talent to arrive before we kick off again. We need to improve defensively now. Perhaps Luke Young and a replacement for Upson with passion and leadership qualities, (sadly missing from Upson)! By the way, I quite like Yakubu, but would really test his fitness prior to any signature. Anyway, good to report a bit of positive action from the Dave's. Cheers chaps!
Good signing. We loved him at the Villa.
Check this video out – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lloaO76Tc3Q – one minute in and you’ll see why the porn kings remember him.
Avram Grant is not a stupid man and I cannot believe he would think of offloading Cole & Noble.
I'm actually a little peed off that we never took the opportunity to buy Bekovic when Pompey had tp sell. He would have been a ready made replacement for Green should he want away. As it stands we have no replacement for Green with Premiership experience and good keepers are hard to come by.
I'm also certain Grant will do a Harry and cherry pick the Pompey players. Bel Hadj would be a decent additon at LB (especially if we play the 3-5-2 formation i have been advocating on here for so long and which people appear to be warming to). Boetang would also be another good buy.
The other player that I have really liked the look of last season was Roger Johnson at Birmingham. He wouldn't break the bank and we will have the money for Upson anyhow.
Grant has good contacts and may even find another gem like Hitzlperger.
GK: Green + 1
RB Faubert + Spence? + 1
LB Daprela + Bel hadj? + 1 (or keep Ilunga?)
CB Tomkins Da Costa + Johnson? + 1
Midfield: Parker Noble Collison LBM Hitlperger Diamanti + Boetang?
Forwards: Cole, Hines, Nouble + 2?
OUTS:
Spector
Upson
Ilunga
Kovac
Gabbidon
Dyer
McCarthy
Stanislas
That's 9 new players in and at least 8 out. Any suggestions to the missing links?
Completely agree on the players out you have mentioned. R Johnson would be a great signingfor us as would Shawecorss from Stoke, i would take either one of them if we sold Upson. Santa Cruz or John Carew would be extremely good buys to fill the forward position, £8-10m for Santa Cruz but i think Carew will cost too much. I would like us to sign Yakubu also to help fill the forward roles up. So my two strikers in would be Yakubu and Roque Santa Cruz. Completely agree about Bel Hadj, we could get him for a good price aswel. Boateng would be a good player and would add something extra to our midfield. We mainly need to sort the defence out and also our strike force needs to be improved. 1st signing Thomas Hitzlsperger for me is a great signing and totally out of blue, he will add alot of balance to our midfield.