Joe Hart: I've always loved West Ham, there's a lot of history at this club

James Benge18 July 2017

Joe Hart says he has always held a strong affection for West Ham after completing his switch to the capital.

The England international today completed a loan move to the capital from Manchester City having found himself frozen out under Pep Guardiola.

Hart spent last season on loan with Serie A side Torino but was keen to return to the Premier League ahead of a World Cup year as he battles to hold on to his No.1 jersey with the national team.

West Ham will have the option of signing Hart on a permanent basis should he impress during his loan spell at the London Stadium and the 30-year-old seemed to suggest that he would welcome a lengthy spell at a club he has “always loved”.

“It's important for me to play football and to get the opportunity to come here and play is absolutely awesome,” he told West Ham TV. “To be playing in the Premier League for a big club like West Ham, I'm really looking forward to the season.

"I've always loved the club. I think you'll struggle to find anyone, apart from the direct opposing fans around London, who doesn't love the club. It's got something about it, it's got a lot history and I've always loved playing against West Ham.

"We've moved into London Stadium and we've got Slaven in charge who I've spoken to and I've always enjoyed as a manager. He obviously did a good job with Croatia and he's doing a good job here, so to get the opportunity to come here, it wasn't really a hard decision.”

Hart could face his parent club before the new season has even kicked off, with a pre-season friendly scheduled between Manchester City and West Ham in Iceland on August 4.

The shot-stopper remains a popular figure in Manchester, with many fans disappointed to have seen him depart last summer to make way for Claudio Bravo, whose own future appears to be in doubt after City paid £35million to bring Ederson in from Benfica.

Though it appears likely that he has played his final game for City, who he joined from Shrewsbury Town in 2006, Hart paid tribute to his former side.

“The club as a whole, especially the supporters, have always been fantastic to me. I'd never change how I feel about that club, as it'll always be a very special club to me.

“It'll be fun to play against them [in pre-season] because I'll be banned when it comes to the actual season, while I'm sure Manchester United will welcome me with open arms if I get the nod and start the season away at Old Trafford.”

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