Premier League: West Ham United sign Jack Wilshere

Former Arsenal and England attacking midfielder Jack Wilshere has finally found a new path after having been released by the Gunners at the end of his contract, he reached an agreement with Premier League side West Ham United. After 17 years at Arsenal, Wilshere signed a three-year contract with West Ham, hoping to add to his 34 caps for England at some point. Wilshere has revealed that he had supported the Hammers as a boy before joining Arsenal. "It feels good, it feels special," the midfielder said. "People will have seen the picture of me in a West Ham shirt and I've got good memories of my childhood supporting West Ham, watching them at Upton Park. It feels good and of course my family and a few of my friends are West Ham fans so everyone's buzzing." Turkish top-flight club Fenerbahce had also been in contact with Wilshere after the midfielder left Arsenal but in the end it was West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini that persuaded him to put pen to paper. "I think it was a number of things that helped me make up my mind, the manager being one and the way he wants to play and where he sees me playing," Wilshere admitted. "The fans, of course - everyone knows how big West Ham's fanbase is - and especially in this new Stadium. Not many clubs could fill it week in, week out, and West Ham do. I want to be playing here in front of the Hammers, and my bond I've had with the Club over my childhood will make it even more special." Jack Wilshere, now aged 26, has been regarded as one of the brightest prospects in English football over the past few years, but injuries have halted his progress and eventually led Arsenal to give up on him. Wilshere had joined Arsenal back in 2001 as a youth player, made his debut for the senior team in 2008 at the age of 16 and went on to score 14 goals in 197 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners. Last season he did make 38 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal after having spent much of the previous campaign on loan at Bournemouth but his performances did not persuade the club to offer him a new contract. West Ham United finished 11th in the Premier League last season and now they are 3/2 at SkyBet to finish inside the top half of the table next season.