West Ham sign Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson on loan

Sam Allardyce has secured the signing of Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson on a season-long loan. West Ham were one of a number of clubs thought to be pursuing the right back, including Southampton.

The Hammers, 5/1 to be relegated next term, after a productive player recruitment drive that has included Ecuador’s World Cup star Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Diego Poyet (Charlton), Mauro Zarate (Velez Sarsfield), Cheikhou Kouyate (Anderlecht), and Aaron Cresswell (Ipswich).

Jenkinson switches across London, due to Arsenal having signed Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle and Calum Chambers, who became a part of Southampton’s seemingly mass exodus. Both play in the 22 year old’s position, and it is hoped by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger that he can gain valuable playing time for an established Premier League club.

“I’m clearly seen as a big part of things here and hopefully I can prove my worth because it is an important year for me,” Jenkinson said, who has one England cap, and featured 22 times in all competitions for the Gunners last term.

“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,” continued Jenkinson, who will hope to feature in West Ham’s first match of the new campaign against Tottenham.

“It will be brilliant to play here. I’ve got a lot of friends who are West Ham fans and I know how good the supporters are here. You get a great atmosphere here and the fans are great, so I just can’t wait to get a West Ham shirt on and get on the pitch and play.”

The Hammers are 10/1 to secure a top 10 finish next season.