Joe Hart completes season-long loan to West Ham from Manchester City with view to a permanent deal

: “It's important for me to play football and to get the opportunity to come here and play is absolutely awesome.

“To be playing in the Premier League for a big club like West Ham, I'm really looking forward to the season.

"I've always loved the Club. I think you'll struggle to find anyone, apart from the direct opposing fans around London, who doesn't love the Club.

"It's got something about it, it's got a lot history and I've always loved playing against West Ham.

"We've moved into London Stadium and we've got Slaven in charge who I've spoken to and I've always enjoyed as a manager.

"He obviously did a good job with Croatia and he's doing a good job here, so to get the opportunity to come here, it wasn't really a hard decision.

“I'd like to think I've obviously left Manchester City on loan this season, but the club as a whole, especially the supporters, have always been fantastic to me.

"I'd never change how I feel about that club, as it'll always be a very special club to me.

"It'll be fun to play against them because I'll be banned when it comes to the actual season, while I'm sure Manchester United will welcome me with open arms if I get the nod and start the season away at Old Trafford.”

England’s No1 keeper was surplus to requirements at the Etihad under Pep Guardiola.

And Hammers boss Slaven Bilic has handed the 30-year-old a lifeline after his stint in Torino last year - where he conceded 64 goals in 37 games.

Hart agreed terms with the East Londoners over the weekend and has the option to make the switch permanent if things work out.

City, who were hoping to sell Hart in a permanent deal, have now settled for a loan exit and will pay part of his wages on a contract that has two years to run.

Hart took to social media over the weekend hinting his move south was gathering pace.

He posted a picture of himself on a train destined for Euston station in central London on Instagram.

Hart said: “on route to the next adventure”.

 

In order to save his England career, the keeper had no choice to move on again for the second time two years.

Having lost his place to Claudio Bravo who was seen by Guardiola as being a better ‘footballing’ keeper, he fell even further down the pecking order with the arrival of Ederson from Benfica.

Hart becomes the second Man City player to join the Hammers following the arrival of Pablo Zabaleta who joined on a free transfer.