West Ham have signed the former France captain Patrice Evra on a free transfer until the end of the season to reinforce their defensive options.

The 36-year-old, who had his contract with Marseille terminated by mutual consent in November after being handed a seven-month European ban for aiming a kick at one of the club’s own fans before a match, passed a medical on Wednesday. He worked under West Ham’s manager, David Moyes, at Manchester United.

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Moyes needed a left-back because, with Arthur Masuaku serving a six-game ban for spitting at Wigan’s Nick Powell during the FA Cup defeat, Aaron Cresswell was his only option in the position.

Evra told West Ham’s website: “It’s amazing to be back and I am thankful to West Ham for giving me the opportunity to do my job. When I wake up and know I am going to work hard, to have fun with my team-mates and give my best on the pitch, I want to say a massive thanks to West Ham, to the chairman, to the manager to all my team-mates, who have given me a nice welcome, my agent and my brother.

“I’m just happy to be here, it’s really simple. You don’t realise how lucky you are and just to wake up this morning and know I am going to train with my new team-mates made me smile.”



Meanwhile West Ham, who are expected to be without Pedro Obiang for the rest of the season after the midfielder had a knee operation, insist they are not making plans to change manager in the summer and will hold talks with Moyes at the end of the season.



A report has claimed that Moyes is unlikely to extend his stay at West Ham past the end of the current campaign regardless of whether or not the club stay in the Premier League.

Moyes agreed a contract until the end of the season when he replaced Slaven Bilic in November and, despite a significant upturn in results and performances, he has maintained that he has no intention of opening talks about a new deal yet.

And the club have reiterated their stance that discussions over any new deal will take place once the season is over.

A statement read: “As previously stated on a number of occasions, the club and David Moyes agreed a deal until the end of the 2017-18 season, at which point both parties will sit down and discuss the future.

“Until then, the board and David Moyes will continue to work closely together, with the manager having full responsibility of footballing matters and the full support of the board. Everyone’s sole focus is on trying to achieve results for West Ham United.”