Bellamy finds his way to West Ham

Wales captain Craig Bellamy has left UEFA Champions League runners-up Liverpool FC to sign for Premier League rivals West Ham United FC in a €11m transfer.

Not needed
Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez first confirmed the deal on Saturday, with Bellamy, 27, having passed a medical and agreed a four-year contract before the deal was completed today. He becomes the third Welsh international at the London club, alongside defenders Danny Gabbidon and James Collins. Bellamy, who spent just one season at Anfield and memorably scored at FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round, became surplus to requirements after the signings of forwards Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin. He scored seven goals in 27 league matches last season.

Still ambitious
Bellamy said: "I wanted to make sure that, if I left Liverpool, it would be to a club that is going to be pushing for Europe. I want to play in Europe, it's important to me, and I felt that same drive and ambition here at West Ham. I want to play every week, to test myself and be in the firing line a little bit. I've signed a five-year contract here, and I will be here for the long term. I've moved around a bit in recent years, and now I want to settle."

Tévez transfer
Benítez has also let France striker Djibril Cissé, in a reported €8.8m move, and Dutch midfielder Boudewijn Zenden leave for Olympique de Marseille. West Ham have already signed France winger Julien Faubert and England midfielder Scott Parker this summer, along with out-of-contract goalkeeper Richard Wright. However, the club have sold captain Nigel Reo-Coker to Aston Villa FC and look like losing Argentina forward Carlos Tévez, with Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson claiming that "we are in negotiations and want to make sure there are no side issues. The essential parts are agreed."