Nicknamed 'The Hammer' in honour of his powerful left-foot shot, Thomas Hitzlsperger is an experienced Germany international with more than 50 caps.

Born in Germany, the midfielder spent the early part of his career in the Premier League with Aston Villa before winning the German Bundesliga title with VfB Stuttgart in 2006/07.

After a short spell in Italy with SS Lazio, Hitzlsperger has arrived in England keen to show West Ham United fans exactly what he can do.

2010/11

Joined West Ham United on a free transfer on 5 June 2010...Saw his competitive West Ham United debut delayed after injurying his thigh in Germany's friendly international in Denmark on 11 August 2010...Made his West Ham United debut in the 2-1 pre-season friendly win at Peterborough United on 14 July 2010...Scored his first goal for the club by netting the winner in the 1-0 pre-season friendly win over Panathinaikos in Kitzbuhel, Austria, on 23 July 2010...Scored on his West Ham United debut in a 5-1 home FA Cup fifth-round win over Burnley on 21 February 2011...Made his Barclays Premier League debut for West Ham United in a 3-1 home victory over Liverpool on 27 February 2011...Scored his first Barclays Premier League goal for West Ham United in a 3-0 home win over Stoke City on 5 March 2011...Totalled eleven Barclays Premier League appearances, scoring two goals...Totalled 13 appearances in all competitions, all of them starts, and three goals.

International career

Capped at U19 and U21 levels by Germany…Captain of the Germany U19 side…Made 20 U21 appearances, scoring three goals…Made his senior debut for Germany in a 2-0 win friendly win over Iran in Tehran on 9 October 2004…Named in Germany squad for 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in France…Made one appearance at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, appearing as a substitute in the third-place play-off against Portugal…Scored four goals in qualifying for the 2008 UEFA European Championship, including two in a 13-0 victory in San Marino and the winner in a 2-1 success against Slovakia in Hamburg…Started all three knockout matches at the 2008 UEFA European Championship finals in Austria/Switzerland, assisting Philip Lahm's semi-final winner over Turkey…Played in all but one of Germany's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scoring in the 6-0 victory in Liechtenstein.

Before West Ham United

Began his career with VfB Forstinning and Bayern Munich before moving to Aston Villa in 2000 at age of 18…Made his Aston Villa debut in a 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool on 13 January 2001…Played five Division Two matches on loan at Chesterfield in 2001/02…Spent five seasons with Aston Villa, scoring nine goals in 99 Premier League appearances, as well as four in eleven FA Cup and League Cup appearances…Moved to VfB Stuttgart on a free transfer in summer 2005…Won the Bundesliga title with VfB Stuttgart in 2006/07…Made VfB Stuttgart captain in July 2008…Totalled 20 goals in 125 Bundesliga appearances, seven in 17 German Cup matches and two in 26 UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, UEFA Europa League appearances…Had his contract cancelled and moved to Italian club SS Lazio in January 2010, scoring one goal in six Serie A appearances.

Any other business

Son of a Bavarian farmer and one of seven children…Has written on his issues such as xenophobia and racism in Germany.