Hammers land Ilunga for longer

West Ham have completed the permanent signing of Toulouse defender Herita Ilunga until 2013, the club have announced.

The 27-year-old joined the Hammers on a season-long loan last summer but he will now make the move permanent for an undisclosed fee.

Ilunga told the club's official website, www.whufc.com: "It is a great joy for me to have signed permanently for a club that believed in me and gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League."

He added: "My goal is to keep developing as a player here, working for the manager and his staff.

"I am very happy to be here and there is a great atmosphere with my team-mates."

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