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West Ham have completed the signing of striker Craig Bellamy from Liverpool for a club record £7.5m.
The 27-year-old Wales captain has signed a five-year contract.
Bellamy spent only one season at Liverpool and his departure follows the Reds' summer signings of forwards Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.
The former Norwich, Coventry and Newcastle star arrived at Anfield in a £6m deal from Blackburn and scored nine goals in 42 appearances.
Bellamy's move was delayed because of a private contractual dispute with Liverpool, which has since been resolved.
There seemed to be little doubt that he would be shown the exit door this summer after Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez dropped at hint at the unveiling of Torres.
Spaniard Torres was added to a strikeforce including Voronin, Crouch and Dirk Kuyt, meaning Bellamy - and Djibril Cisse, who has joined Marseille - had to make way because they were surplus to requirements.
Benitez is keen on West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun but has had a bid turned down in what he insists is a separate issue to the Bellamy deal.
"Any move for Benayoun will not be linked with the Bellamy sale," he said. "We made an offer, which was rejected.
"He is a player I like and would want to sign, and I believe he wants to join us, but that deal will be separate now. We will have to wait and see what happens now next week."
But the Reds may end their interest in the right-sided midfielder as they have now made a bid for Ajax winger Ryan Babel.
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6270944.stm
Published: 2007/07/10 08:22:39 GMT
© BBC MMVII
The 27-year-old Wales captain has signed a five-year contract.
Bellamy spent only one season at Liverpool and his departure follows the Reds' summer signings of forwards Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.
The former Norwich, Coventry and Newcastle star arrived at Anfield in a £6m deal from Blackburn and scored nine goals in 42 appearances.
Bellamy's move was delayed because of a private contractual dispute with Liverpool, which has since been resolved.
There seemed to be little doubt that he would be shown the exit door this summer after Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez dropped at hint at the unveiling of Torres.
Spaniard Torres was added to a strikeforce including Voronin, Crouch and Dirk Kuyt, meaning Bellamy - and Djibril Cisse, who has joined Marseille - had to make way because they were surplus to requirements.
Benitez is keen on West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun but has had a bid turned down in what he insists is a separate issue to the Bellamy deal.
"Any move for Benayoun will not be linked with the Bellamy sale," he said. "We made an offer, which was rejected.
"He is a player I like and would want to sign, and I believe he wants to join us, but that deal will be separate now. We will have to wait and see what happens now next week."
But the Reds may end their interest in the right-sided midfielder as they have now made a bid for Ajax winger Ryan Babel.
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6270944.stm
Published: 2007/07/10 08:22:39 GMT
© BBC MMVII
