West Ham United sign World Cup winner Alvaro Arbeloa on one-year deal

West Ham United have confirmed they have signed former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa on the deadline day of the summer transfer window.

The 33-year-old was a free agent after he was released by Real Madrid last summer. He won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and was part of the national squad that won the European Championship twice in 2008 and 2012.

Arbeloa was also part of the Real squad that won the Champions League twice in the last three years. The full-back was allowed to leave the Spanish capital club by their manager Zinedine Zidane and he has completed his switch to the Olympic Stadium on the final day of the window.

The full-back has signed a one-year deal with Slaven Bilic's side and will wear the number 5 shirt at West Ham.

A statement on West Ham's official website read, "West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of FIFA World Cup and two-time UEFA European Championship winner Alvaro Arbeloa.

"The highly-decorated Spanish full-back, who has also won the UEFA Champions League, joins the Hammers on a one-year contract and will add huge experience and ability to Slaven Bilic's squad."

Arbeloa has played in the Premier League in the past, having spent two years at Liverpool. The Spanish defender is delighted to be back in England and has admitted that he held talks with Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic before signing for Bilic's side.

"I am really happy to be here in a great Club in a great league. I'm really happy to be back in England and, for me, it's a great chance and I'm looking forward to playing with this side," Arbeloa told West Ham's official website.

"The Stadium is amazing. It's really nice and looks fantastic. Hopefully I'm going to see the Stadium full with all our fans and I'm really happy to be here.

"For me, this is a great chance to be back in England and in the Premier League, which is a fantastic league and I want to put myself here again. This is a big Club and a great Club with fantastic players and a great coach.

"Slaven wants to see me training as soon as possible. I was talking with [Croatia internationals] Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic and they told me good things about the coach, so I want to work with him and hopefully I can learn a lot of things."