Hammers get their man as Upson signs

West Ham's battle for Premiership survival will be bolstered by the arrival of England defender Matthew Upson, pictured in 2004, from Birmingham for an initial fee of six million pounds.

West Ham's battle for Premiership survival will be bolstered by the arrival of England defender Matthew Upson from Birmingham for an initial fee of six million pounds.

Promotion-chasing Birmingham had tried hard to hang on to the 27-year-old former Arsenal centreback, but his determination to move on ensured that the deal went through with just hours left until the expiry of the January transfer window.

Upson has agreed a four-and-a-half year contract at Upton Park and will go straight into the squad for the Hammers' Premiership clash at Aston Villa on Saturday.

The east London club are in deep trouble after winning just one of their seven league matches since manager Alan Curbishley took over from Alan Pardew in December.

The fee for Upson could rise to 7.5 million pounds depending on appearances.

Arsenal paid Luton two million pounds to sign him in 1997 but the defender never convinced Arsene Wenger that he was worth a regular first team place. He moved to Birmingham in January 2003 and won the first of his seven England caps five months later.