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LONDON - Arsenal midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg joined English Premier League soccer rivals West Ham United on Tuesday (NZ time) for a fee that could rise to £3 million ($7.8 million).
The 30-year-old Sweden captain, who joined Arsenal in 1998 and played a major part in their successes over
the last decade, has signed a four-year deal at Upton Park.
Ljungberg said France striker Thierry Henry's transfer to Barcelona last month had been a factor in his decision to end his stay at Arsenal.
"Two years ago, when I signed my last contract, we talked a lot about the future and whether we were going to be bringing in a lot of big players, and despite building a new stadium and stuff we were going to stay at the top in England and top in Europe. For me that did not really happen," Ljungberg said.
"There has always been clubs wanting to buy me in the summer and I've always stayed loyal because I wanted to do it with Arsenal.
"But when (Thierry) Henry left this summer it felt a bit like the end unfortunately.
"It made me a bit sad and I thought all the players that were in the undefeated team have all left. I stayed and I want to be loyal but I think it was the right time to go."
Ljungberg, an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, played a major role when Arsenal won the title in 2003-04, staying undefeated for the entire 38-match league programme. He played in 30 of those games, scoring four times.
In all, he made more than 300 appearances and scored more than 70 goals for Arsenal after joining from Halmstad. He became the first player for 40 years to score in successive FA Cup finals with goals in both the 2001 and 2002 finals in Cardiff.
Last season Ljungberg, Arsenal's longest-serving player in the first-team squad, suffered a string of injuries which restricted him to 26 appearances.
The Swede said the ambition of West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson had also been a decision influencing his move away from the Emirates Stadium.
The east London club, who survived a relegation dogfight last season, are battling to keep hold of unsettled Argentina striker Carlos Tevez but have brought in Wales frontman Craig Bellamy from Liverpool for a 7.5 million pounds fee.
France midfielder Julien Faubert also joined in a 6.1 million pounds deal from Bordeaux but he faces a six-month lay-off after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
- REUTERS
