- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: YOSSI BENAYOUN JOINS ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM WEST HAM UNITED
- Date: 25th July 2005
- Summary: ROMFORD, NEAR LONDON, UK (JULY 25, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF YOSSI BENAYOUN WALKING OFF TRAINING GROUND (3 SHOTS = 17 SECONDS) 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOOTBALLER YOSSI BENAYOUN: "My impression is that I'm very happy to be here. For me, it's a new challenge to come to the Premier League and I'm looking forward to the start of the season." REPO
- Embargoed: 9th August 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ROMFORD, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / RAMAT-GAN, ISRAEL
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA29QIM90VJFJXS2LAP09SR7S20
- Story Text: English Premier League newcomers West Ham United
unveiled their new signing Israeli international Yossi
Benayoun on Monday (July 25).
The East London club, which gained promotion from the
First Division last season, signed the 25-year-old
midfielder from Spanish club Racing Santander on a 4-year
contract for a sum of 2.5 million Sterling.
Benayoun has played 36 times for Israel, scoring six
goals and in his three seasons with Santander also scored
21 times.
"My impression is that I'm very happy to be here," he
said. "For me, it's a new challenge to come to the Premier
League and I'm looking forward to the start of the season."
In September, Benayoun will be hoping to be in Israel's
squad for their vital World Cup qualifying match against
Switzerland. Both teams, along with France and Ireland are
undefeated in the tightest of groups with only one certain
of reaching the finals in Germany next year.
West Ham manager Alan Pardew revealed his delight at
capturing such a creative player for their Premiership
campaign.
"What Yossi will bring to us is an intelligence," he
said. "We have a lot of pace and power in the team, but in
the Premiership, you need a moment to decide the game and
Yossi can provide that. He has a great record of assists
and scoring, and we feel that's what we need in our squad
and we are very pleased to have him."
West Ham open their league campaign at home to
Blackburn Rovers on August 13.
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