West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of England international winger Matt Jarvis from Wolverhampton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee.
Jarvis becomes West Ham's club-record signing after agreeing a contract until 2017 - with an option for a further year - and could be in line to make his first appearance in claret and blue in Saturday's game at Swansea City. The 26-year-old leaves Wolves after five successful years that saw him earn his first England cap and be named Wolves' Player of the Year in 2011.
Jarvis' career began at Gillingham, where he made his debut in 2003 at the age of 17. He went on to make over 100 appearances for the Gills and he was named in the League One Team of the Year in 2006/07.
He moved to Wolves in June 2007 for an undisclosed fee and helped the club to gain promotion to the Premier League the following season. Jarvis' first game in England's top-flight was against the Hammers and he quickly made his mark in the Premier League with a number of eye-catching displays.
Jarvis, a quick and tricky winger capable of operating on either flank, continued to excel and in the 2010/11 season he was named Wolves' Supporters' Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season.
It was in March 2011 that Jarvis made his first appearance for England in a 1-1 draw with Ghana at Wembley after being called up by then-manager Fabio Capello. Last season, Jarvis was the most prolific and accurate crosser in the top flight, firing over 218 and finding a team-mate 56 times. He also scored eight goals - his highest single-season tally.
Jarvis, who will wear the No7 shirt, is happy to have finally joined West Ham after being courted by a number of top-flight teams this summer.
He said: "I'm delighted to have signed. It's a fantastic club and I'm pleased to be here. It's a great club and it's got great history and tradition. I know about Bobby Moore and the history and tradition that go with that.
"I'll be playing with some fantastic players and it'll be great to get into training and I'm looking forward to playing with them. Hopefully I will add a bit of pace, crossing and deliveries that will provide some assists."
Jarvis is set to join up with his new team-mates at Chadwell Heath on Friday morning before travelling to Wales ahead of Saturday's mouth-watering clash.
"I've been told about how good the fans are hopefully they'll get behind me and I can show them what I can do.
"It'll be straight in and hit the ground running. There's no time to think about it, you've just got to get on with it, which is good. I hope to train with the team today and then travel up to Swansea."
Jarvis' new manager Sam Allardyce was understandably pleased to have secured the services of the wideman. He said. "From my point of view it is a big piece of business for a terrific young man who will add a lot of quality to our team.
"Certainly from an attacking sense he is one of the best final-third crossers in the Premier League and his stats were very good at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He delivers in the business end of the field and creates a lot of chances and is a player that can give opposition defences an awful lot of trouble. We are hoping he will produce that for us."
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