West Ham have signed English born, childhood West Ham supporter Jack Wilshere on a free transfer. Wilshere will be reportedly making £100,000 per week and will join on a three year deal, walking away from Arsenal.

For West Ham, Wilshere has taken a significant pay cut after rejecting a rumoured £130,000/week deal to stay at Arsenal, and a massive move to Turkish League giants Fenerbahce to come to his boyhood team. In the summer of the “Football is coming home” movement surrounding Englands terrific World Cup run, Jack Wilshere jumps aboard and comes home to his own club.

Lets get it out of the way early here – Wilshere has had some injury problems in the passed. Since 2015 Wilshere has missed 496 days to injury, including a substantial time for a fracture in his shin, and malleolar injuries in his ankle. What is positive – and knock on wood here – is that over the last two seasons Wilshere has played 30 games each, which is an accomplishment coming off of that long track record of injuries.

He has had a storied rise to prominence in English football as a highly rated Arsenal prospect. He developed through the Gunners’ youth teams and was sent on loan to Bolton for a half season as well. After substantial time at Arsenal from 2010-2016, and after struggling with injury Wilshere was off to Bournemouth on a season long loan for the 2016/17 season. Wilshere managed 29 games that season with two assists to his name but eventually his season was ended early with the calf fracture injury.

Upon returning to Arsenal for the 2017/18 season Wilshere was back in the main squad on the bench on September 25th following a conditioning stint with the U-23 Arsenal team. Wilshere’s time in the minors culminated with a 2-match red card ban after pushing a Manchester City player to the ground following a brutally late and dangerous tackle on him. Wilshere went on to exchange blows with another City player.

Wilshere wouldn’t see a start and full 90 minutes with the first team until December 13th, against West Ham. The teams drew 0-0 after a highly praised defensive masterclass from David Moyes’ West Ham side. Wilshere played in 40 games last season which is a massive boost to his injury laded form before 2017.

For West Ham Wilshere walks into the first team as a starter. At just 26 years old he is an English born player in the prime of his career that would have cost the team massively if they were buying the transfer. He is a true central midfielder who likes to jump in the attack, but can also perform as a holding midfielder providing Manuel Pellegrini a versatile option in the middle of the pitch. Possibly a replacement for Lanzini and eventual partner in the midfield, Wilshere is a massive signing for West Ham and is again helping the Hammers reform their squad for a highly anticipated 2018/19 season.

Welcome Home, Jack.