DEAL DONE: West Ham complete Ryan Fredericks signing

West Ham United have finally completed the signing of Ryan Fredericks on free transfer. The 25 year-old England right-back joins the Hammers after a very impressive season with newly promoted Fulham.

The four year deal is expected to be in the £40k a week range is the first of new manager’s Manuel Pellegrini’s signings.

Pellegrini told the official West Ham site “I am very pleased to welcome Ryan to West Ham United as our first signing this summer. He joins having had a successful season with Fulham and is a player who will bring great qualities to our squad.

“He has good experience, with more than 150 senior appearances already but, at 25, he is still a young player with his best years ahead of him.

“Ryan has good character, is hungry to succeed, and has shown me that he has great desire to be a West Ham United player. I look forward to working with him.”

Fulham fans will be sad to lose Fredericks, the right-back played a critical role in Fulham’s promotion campaign; playing 44 out of 46 games in the Championship last season. He was named in the Championship’s PFA Team of the Year along with fellow Fulham full-back Ryan Sessegnon. Both players had a key role in Fulham’s playoff final victory over Aston Villa.

Right back has been a problem for West Ham for a considerable amount of time, the last time I remember having a decent option in the position was Lucas Neil. While no world-beater, he was infinitely better than Guy Demel, Lars Jacobson and the rest of the scrubs we’ve had over the years. While Pablo Zabaleta had a good season, the 33-year-old was merely a stop-gap option.

Fredericks came through the Tottenham youth system and his expiring contract attracted plenty of interest from Premier League sides. Crystal Palace were among his suitors, with director of football Dougie Freedman recently spotted in the stands at Craven Cottage.

It is legitimately exciting to have a talented 25-year-old enter the squad at a position West Ham have been so thin in for so long. West Ham had the joint-worst Premier League defence last season, it is encouraging to see Manuel Pellegrini prioritise this area in these early transfer dealings.