West Ham complete Ljungberg signing
25th Jul 2007West Ham United have completed the signing of long-serving Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg in a deal worth around £3m.
Swedish international Ljungberg joined Arsenal from Halmstads for £3m in 1998 and went on to make 325 appearances for the club, scoring 72 goals.
However Ljungberg struggled with injuries last season, making just 26 appearance and cited Arsenal's lack of progress as one of his reasons for leaving.
"Two years ago when I signed my last contract we talked a lot about the future and about bringing great players to the club," Ljungberg said.
"Despite building the new stadium we wanted to stay top in England and do well in Europe. For me that didn't really happen."
And the Sweden captain says he admires the ambition shown by new West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson.
"When I spoke to Arsene Wenger, he wanted me to stay," Ljungberg explained.
"But, at the same time, I feel it had to be something very, very special for me to leave.
"For me it is about why I wanted to join West Ham, not why I wanted to leave Arsenal.
"The reason I wanted to join is because of West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson.
"He wants to take West Ham to the top of the country. He is willing to go on the market and buy great players and mix them with youth players from the academy.
Ljungberg is the latest in a string of signings for West Ham this summer and, despite losing key players Marlon Harewood and Nigel Reo-Coker to Aston Villa, follows Julien Faubert, Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy and Richard Wright into Upton Park.
