JACK TO HAMMER IT HOME
IRON: Wilshere yesterday FORMER Arsenal star Jack Wilshere snubbed the chance of Champions League football to join West Ham.
England international Wilshere was offered a lucrative deal to sign for Turkish side Fenerbahce.
But he opted for the Hammers, who have landed him on a three-year deal worth £100,000 a week.
Fenerbahce finished runners-up in Super Lig last season and are in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
Wilshere left the Gunners following the expiry of his contract. It ended a 17-year stay at the north London side, but the 26-year-old midfielder said he was thrilled to join a club he has supported since childhood.
Wilshere said: “It feels good, it feels special.
“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. My family and a few of my friends are West Ham fans, so everyone’s buzzing.”
Wilshere made his senior debut for Arsenal in 2008, going on to make 197 appearances, but a mixture of injuries and loss of form saw him struggle to secure a regular first-team spot.
Wilshere will fly to Switzerland to join new West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini’s squad at their pre-season training camp in Bad Ragaz.
The Hammers are also closing in on Lazio winger Felipe Anderson for a club record £38m.