West Ham United Sign Arsenal Defender Carl Jenkinson on Season-Long Loan

Arsenal right back Carl Jenkinson has joined West Ham United on a season-long loan, both clubs have confirmed.

The 22-year-old was allowed to leave the Emirates following the arrival of Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers from Newcastle United and Southampton respectively.

The statement on the Hammers' official website read, "West Ham United are delighted to announce the arrival of defender Carl Jenkinson on a season-long loan from Arsenal. Jenkinson will join up with his new team-mates on Friday before travelling with the squad to the Schalke 04 Cup tournament in Germany this weekend."

"The Harlow-born player becomes West Ham's sixth summer signing, following the arrival of Argentine forward Mauro Zarate, Ecuador FIFA World Cup striker Enner Valencia, Senegal defensive midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, left-back Aaron Cresswell and midfielder Diego Poyet."

The former Charlton Athletic starlet expressed his delight at making the switch to Upton Park.

"It's brilliant how it has turned out and I just want to thank the Gaffer [Sam Allardyce] and Mr [David] Sullivan and Mr [David] Gold because they put in a big push to get me here," Jenkinson explained.

"I'm clearly seen as a big part of things here and hopefully I can prove my worth here because it is an important year for me. I was flattered to have a lot of options but, deep down, if I was being honest with myself West Ham was always the place I wanted to go to."

"It's one of them where I wanted to do the right professional thing and consider all the options, but in the back of my mind it was always West Ham and I'm just so glad it's all worked out how I wanted it to in the end."

"To be honest, that was a big swing in this for me, seeing this Club is going in the right direction. We've signed six players and they are top players as well. It's a very exciting time to be a part of this Club."

"There is an English group of lads here, which is always great for an English lad, and the players who have been brought in are top-drawer, so there is every reason to be optimistic about this season. That was a big reason I signed here," he concluded.