Birmingham ace Claudia Walker joins West Ham Women in free transfer ahead of WSL season
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CLAUDIA WALKER has sealed a move to Women’s Super League side West Ham becoming the club’s third summer signing.
The former Birmingham frontwoman follows Australia midfielder Tameka Yallop and ex-Glasgow City ace in joining the East London outfit.
And her departure comes days after Birmingham - who finished one place above the WSL’s drop zone - revealed the exit of three first-team players.
Sarah Mayling, 24, Mollie Green, 23, and England goalkeeper starlet Hannah Hampton, 20, have all left the club who ended last term in eleventh place in the league.
Walker, 25, netted five goals 21 top-flight appearances for Carla Ward’s former side helping them to avoid relegation to the Women’s Championship last term.
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On her switch to the Hammers managed by Ollie Harder, the WSL forward said: “The way that the team plays really suits my style.
“I like to be aggressive, and look to be in the faces of the opposition at every opportunity so I think I complement the manager’s way of playing.
“I’m delighted to join; it’s a massive opportunity! The ambition the club has is something that I feel I can not only add value to, but something that I really wanted to be a part of.”
Irons manager Harder, 34, said: “Claudia is somebody who I have admired since coming to England.
“The things that she does off the ball are exceptional and she works extremely hard for her team.
“The culture of this club is all about playing for the team and we want people who embody that, and we believe Claudia will do that.
“She’s somebody who knows where the back of the net is and we believe that there is a lot more potential in her in regards to increasing those goalscoring numbers.
“She’s quick, powerful and has a fantastic attitude, we’re delighted to bring her to the club.”
Walker began her career as a youth player at Stoke City in 2013 when she was 17 before sealing a 2014 switch to Liverpool where she made six appearances.
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And the forward joined the Reds’ Merseyside rivals Everton in 2014 helping them to win promotion to the women’s top tier ahead of the 2017-18 season.
A hamstring injury in December 2017 forced Walker out of action for the rest of that term.
The striker later joined Birmingham City on loan in January 2019 before making a permanent two-year move in June that year.
And Walker helped the team reach the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals in September 2020 where they were beaten by her former club Everton.