WEST Ham United are pleased to announce the signing of Israel
international striker Yaniv Katan from Maccabi Haifa on a
three-and-a-half year contract.
Hammers moved quickly to sign the 24-year-old ahead of a host of European clubs as his contract was due to expire at the end of the season.
The deal is subject to the player passing a medical and obtaining a work permit, however the Club do not anticipate any problems. Hammers will still have to wait until the transfer window opens on 1st January to register the free-scoring forward.
Hammers boss Alan Pardew said: "We are delighted to have secured the signature of Yaniv Katan and we expect him to become an important member of our squad.
"The chance to sign a player of his quality was a great opportunity for West Ham United and one that we could not miss.
"His signing represents a good deal for the Club, and will give us the resources to further add to the squad when the transfer window opens in January."
Born in Kiryat Ata, Israel Yaniv Katan has been with the Maccabi Haifa youth-team since the age of nine. In fact, he was the leading scorer in every season of his rise through the Maccabi youth system.
By the age of 17 he was a regular in the senior side, where he became a team-mate of Hammers star and fellow countryman Yossi Benayoun.
In the 2001-02 season he scored a hat-trick for Maccabi Haifa in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round against FC Haka of Finland, becoming just the second Israel player to score a European hat-trick.
In 2002-03 Champions League season he scored twice against Manchester United, only for Maccabi to miss out on qualification for the next round of the tournament.
Although his name translates to 'small' in Hebrew, the striker in fact brings a strong physical presence to the attack as well as an eye for goal. A talented finisher he once scored 10 goals in one match for the Maccabi youth team, but is equally happy on the wing or behind a main striker.
Katan made his international debut for Israel aged just 19, against Hungary in June 2000. He has scored four goals in 20 matches for his country.