West Ham United are pleased to announce the signing of Egypt striker Mido on loan until the end of the 2009/10 season.
The 26-year-old, whose full name is Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid, has arrived at the Boleyn Ground from Middlesbrough, having been on loan at Egyptian club El Zamalek since August.
The powerful frontman put the finishing touches to his move in the Boleyn Ground trophy room on Monday afternoon, before the club were able to confirm the transfer later that night. He had earlier been to Chadwell Heath to meet Gianfranco Zola.
Mido was one of three new striking recruits at the club this transfer window after the confirmation of the deals to sign South Africa forward Benni McCarthy and Brazilian attacker Ilan.
He said: "I am very happy to be here. It is a great club and I am sure that I will do well. It is an exciting challenge for me. It is another new club but hopefully I can prove myself and stay here for longer.
"We had other offers but I have decided to play here. I met the gaffer this morning and we got on well. I am really looking forward to working with him and the lads. West Ham have a great team and manager, and that was a big factor in deciding to come here.
"I know a lot of the players here and the fans are passionate. We have got everything you need to get in the top ten and I hope to play my part in helping the club to move up.
"We will all be doing our best to start winning games. I am fit to play this weekend but of course it is the manager's decision. I will start training on Tuesday and try to do the business for West Ham."
Mido, who has scored 23 goals in 50 games for his country, began his career at El Zamalek in 1999 before moving to Europe with Belgian club KAA Gent in 2000. The forward's career took off with AFC Ajax, where he scored 12 goals in 24 league appearances in 2001/02, helping the Dutch giants to a league and cup double.
After spending time with Spanish club Celta Vigo, where he partnered new Hammers team-mate McCarthy, French giants Olympique de Marseille and Italian side AS Roma, Mido moved to England in January 2005, when he joined Tottenham Hotspur.
The Cairo-born forward had two-and-a-half years at White Hart Lane before heading to Middlesbrough. He then had loan spells at Wigan Athletic and Zamalek. At international level, Mido was part of the Pharaohs' squad that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in their home country in 2006, scoring in the group-stage win over Libya.