• Premier League

Downing completes West Ham switch

West Ham have completed the signing of England winger Stewart Downing on a four-year contract after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms with the Upton Park club.

The 29-year-old becomes manager Sam Allardyce's fifth summer signing - believed to be £1.5 million up front plus up to £4m in performance-based add-ons - and will be reunited with former Liverpool team-mate Andy Carroll.

Carroll moved to East London in June for £15.5m, while Allardyce has also brought in Romania captain Razvan Rat from Shakhtar Donetsk, midfielder Danny Whitehead from non-league Stockport and Spanish goalkeeper Adrian from Real Betis.

Downing will go into the West Ham squad for Saturday's opening Premier League fixture at home to Cardiff.

He told the club's official website: "I'm very excited. It's a great opportunity for me being here. It's a great club and I'm really excited to get going.

"I'm ready and I'm fit for the first game against Cardiff. I've played a decent few games for Liverpool in pre-season, so there will be no problems on that front.

"It's all happened quickly, but I'm really excited and hoping to play a part on Saturday."

Downing spent two years at Liverpool after joining from Aston Villa for £20m in the summer of 2011.

He struggled to make an impact for much of his time at Anfield, and was told he could leave by manager Brendan Rodgers last autumn.

He did, though, force his way back into the side over the second half of last season.

Liverpool said in a statement on their website: "Everybody at LFC would like to wish Stewart all the best in his future career."

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