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發表於 2006-8-1 23:25:37
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Hammers complete Pantsil signing
West Ham United today completed the signing of Ghanaian international John Pantsil from Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv in a deal that could rise to £1million.
The 25-year-old defender has agreed a four-year contract at Upton Park after impressing on a brief trial with Alan Pardew's men, although he will have to wait for international clearance and a work permit before being eligible to play for the Club - an issue that is expected to be resolved shortly.
A versatile defender who starred for Ghana at the World Cup finals in Germany this summer, John is recognised as a right-back but has also featured in central defence and at left back for his country.
He began his career in Ghana at Berekum Arsenal FC before moving to Liberty Professionals. He then headed to Europe for a brief spell with Polish side Widzew Lodz, before joining Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2002, where he won the Israeli title and reached the Israeli Cup final in his first season.
In December 2004, he signed permanently for Hapoel Tel Aviv after completing a short loan move across town from Maccabi.
A member of the Ghana under-21 side that reached the FIFA World Youth Championship final in Argentina in 2001, John soon moved onto senior duty and was selected to play in the 2002 and 2006 African Cup of Nations in Mali & Egypt respectively.
He was also selected for the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece and played all matches at the World Cup finals this summer, when Ghana progressed through the group stages only to be beaten in the second round by Brazil. He now has 25 full international caps to his name.
Recommended to Hammers by his former colleague in the Israeli league, Yossi Benayoun, John becomes Alan Pardew's fifth summer signing following the arrivals of Lee Bowyer, Jonathan Spector, Carlton Cole and Tyrone Mears.
http://www.whufc.com/articles/article.php?page_id=8169 |
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