Jaaskelainen Agrees Terms With West Ham
Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 1:17 AM | by Sam Jewell 
Veteran goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has agreed a free transfer on an initial one year contract at West Ham United, with an option of a second 12 months. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was keen to snap up the former Finland international as a replacement for Robert Green who is set to leave Upton Park this summer.
Now coming to the twilight of his career, Jussi made just 18 appearances last season as young Adam Bogdan began to establish himself as the future number 1 at The Reebok. Jaaskelainen spent 15 years with Bolton Wanderers making over 500 appearances, he is 3rd on the all time appearance list and is the longest serving foreign player in the Premier League, a run which will continue with West Ham following their play-off victory.
Bolton offered Jaaskelainen a contract extension following their relegation to the Championship but the ‘keeper turned down the offer in sight of new surroundings, “after spending 15 years in Bolton it’s a great new challenge and I’m really looking forward to it,” Jussi told West Ham’s official website.
Allardyce and Jaaskelainen will be reunited after working together at Bolton for 8 years, a potential factor in the stopper’s eagerness to make the move, “when the opportunity was offered to come to West Ham I didn’t think twice and I just told my agent to sort it out as quickly as possible.”
No doubt Bolton fans will be sad to see a legend leave but had added his gratitude to the club, “I would like to thank the fans for all their support over the years and I wish the players and, in particular, Owen Coyle all the best in gaining promotion at the first attempt.”
Sam Jewell
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