West Ham United is delighted to announce the signing of defender Laura Vetterlein from SC Sand.



A two-time Champions League winner and Bundesliga champion, Vetterlein becomes West Ham United women’s first acquisition of the summer. She will wear the No26 shirt.



“I feel really good and happy to have signed for West Ham United,” Vetterlein told whufc.com. “I’m really happy to be here and get the chance to meet everyone.



“This is a team with a lot of ambition, which is a big reason why I wanted to join. When you see that a team is playing in finals – like the FA Cup Final – you can’t wait to join up and hopefully we can keep achieving big things.



“I know Julia Simic from Wolfsburg and she spoke really positively about the Club and told me that this is a Club with a lot of history. That’s also why I wanted to join and be a part of West Ham.”

I feel really good and happy to have signed for West Ham United. This is a team with a lot of ambition, which is a big reason why I wanted to join. Laura Vetterlein



Head coach Matt Beard is delighted to bring in a player of Vetterlein’s experience and is looking forward to working with his new recruit this season.



“I’m delighted to welcome Laura to our squad,” Beard said. “We needed to bring in a defender who could play on the left side and Laura is capable of playing both left-back and centre-back, which gives us flexibility.



“She’s played for the German national team and has won trophies at one of the biggest clubs in Europe in Wolfsburg. We wanted to bring in more competition and a quality left-sided player, and she is also technically very good.

“In Laura, we have also got a very good leader and a fantastic defender who will be a brilliant addition to our group.”



A left-footed centre-half capable of also playing left-back, Vetterleins’ career began with 1.FC Saarbrucken in the second division of German women’s football, helping the side to return to the Bundesliga and reach the final of the 2008 DFB Women’s Final against 1.FFC Frankfurt.





Following Saarbrucken’s relegation in 2011, the defender made the move to VfL Wolfsburg. Vetterlein spent four years with the successful German side, helping the team to achieve the treble – the Bundesliga title, the Champions League and the DFB Cup – in 2013.



Further league and Champions League trophies followed in 2014 for Vetterlein and her Wolfsburg teammates, including current Hammer Julia Simic, with another DFB Cup also being won in 2015.



Vetterlein departed Wolfsburg in 2015, signing for SC Sand. The new West Ham signing has made 137 competitive senior appearances in her career, scoring three goals.



At international level, Vetterlein has represented Germany up to U20s level and won the European U17 Championship with her nation in 2009.



Everyone at West Ham United would like to welcome Laura to the Club and wish her every success in Claret and Blue.