West Ham United are pleased to announce the signing of Wayne Bridge on loan until the end of the season.
An attacking left-back, the 30-year-old will add proven quality to the Hammers' defence for the vital Barclays Premier League run-in. His debut could come in the evening match with Arsenal at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.
Bridge, who has joined the club from Manchester City, was capped 36 times by England before announcing his retirement from international football in 2009.
The defender has spent his entire professional career in the Premier League, making 289 appearances for Southampton, Chelsea, Fulham and Manchester City, scoring three goals.
"I am delighted to sign for West Ham United," Bridge told whufc.com. "I am just looking forward to meeting everyone at the training ground, starting work and getting out on the pitch and playing in front of the fans. I am glad the loan is sorted and I'm ready to play.
"It will be great to play a part in helping keep West Ham in the Premier League," added Bridge. "It would be a big achievement."
Bridge was at the Boleyn Ground for Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final first leg with Birmingham and will be eligible for the return at St Andrew's on Wednesday 26 January. Manchester City have also granted permission for him to play in the FA Cup - but it is the Barclays Premier League where he will hope to have the main impact.
"I know a few of the players from England and I know the physio. I spoke to Scotty Parker and a few people and they told me what a great club it is. That definitely helped me make the decision to come here.
"There is a lot of quality here and I know we can move up the table. The first half on Tuesday was great. There should have been a few more goals and then the team came back with ten men. If we can play like that every week we'll be fine."
Bridge has also featured in the UEFA Champions League during six seasons with Chelsea, where he won the Premier League title in 2005 and the FA Cup and League Cup double in 2007.
At international level, the left-back made his senior England debut against Netherlands in February 2002. He was named in the national team's squad for the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup finals and the 2004 UEFA European Championship finals.
With competition for places at Eastlands fierce following the summer arrivals of Germany international Jerome Boateng and Serbia left-back Aleksandar Kolarov, Bridge has made seven first-team appearances for Manchester City this season - four in the UEFA Europa League and three in the Barclays Premier League.