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The guardian of the Scottish national team and a lower Championship league club, Nigel Quashie, has moved to the English Premier League for a sum of 1.5 million pounds sterling.
The 28-year-old player signed a three and a half year contract with the "Hammers". If he helps West Ham avoid relegation to a lower league, W.B.A. will have to pay an additional 250,000 pounds sterling at the end of the season.
Quashie's Scottish debut with the new team could take place this coming Saturday, when West Ham host London's Fulham at home.
"We acquired Nigel precisely because he is an experienced footballer and should strengthen our team's midfield line," said Alan Curbishley, who became the new West Ham coach in December. – "I can't promise him yet that he will be a key player in the starting lineup, as he will have to earn it like the rest of the team. However, he brings a lot of experience to the team and has shown me that he is extremely eager and hungry for football and will do everything to help us in the current difficult situation."
"I would like to reiterate that the arrival of new players does not mean that I will let my protégés leave the club," added the former long-time Charlton Athletic coach. – "Competition for a place in the starting lineup is a factor for us, as it is very important for us to finally climb out of the bottom of the table, and every player on the team must prove that he deserves to be in the starting eleven."
Meanwhile, W.B.A, after selling N.Quashie, hopes to receive the money as part of an offer for Hibernian's defenders Kevin Thompson and Scott Brown.
"I want to thank Nigel for his contribution to the team since I became the head coach," said Canaries' coach Tony Mowbray. – "He recently expressed a desire to return to the Premier League." When West Ham showed intentions to acquire N.Quashie, I understood that the club would benefit from it, and I thought it would satisfy both parties."
"I am very happy that the deal finally happened and I am delighted to have become a player for West Ham," said Scottish legionary N.Quashie. – "I am absolutely sure that this team will achieve good results. It was a simpler choice to stay at West Brom and help them perform well in the Championship and return to the Premier League, but I saw the situation in the team and decided that the club could play really well in the future if it remained in the highest English league."
The defender started his career in 1995 at London's Queens Park Rangers, which was relegated from the Premier League. In 1998, the Scot moved to the legendary Nottingham Forest club, and after two years, he moved to the Portsmouth eleven, where he scored 13 goals in 148 matches.
In 2005, the player's career shifted to Southampton, and after playing just one year, he was sold to W.B.A for a sum of 1.2 million pounds sterling, with which he beat opposing goalkeepers just once in 30 matches. In the Scottish national team, N.Quashie scored one goal in 14 matches.
For West Ham, this is the second acquisition at January's player sales fair. Last week, the "Hammers" were joined by Fulham defender Luis Boa Morte.
Currently, under A.Curbishley's guidance, West Ham is in 18th place in the country's standings and is four points behind the club above, Wigan.
