Faubert: This is a dream come true

Julien Faubert admits that signing for West Ham United has made a lifelong dream come true.

The French international midfielder completed his €9million move from Bordeaux on Sunday morning and, in his first interview as a Hammers player, revealed that he can't wait to experience life in the Premier League.

"I am very happy," he says. "For me it has always been a dream to play in the Premier League and now that dream is coming true. West Ham United is a great club and I cannot wait to enjoy this experience.

"Things happened very quickly in the past few days. As soon as I was told that West Ham wanted to sign me, I was very happy and saw it as a wonderful opportunity.

"I like the fact that West Ham is recognised as a family club and I am looking forward to being a part of this. It was similar at Bordeaux, where I was very happy, and for me that is important.

"I have already visited the stadium and it gave me a very good feeling. It is hard to describe, but the atmosphere was very special. I have also met some of the people working at the Club and they have made me feel very welcome.

"The Chairman, Mr Magnusson, is a very passionate man and has a lot of ambition. I believe that he will bring great success to West Ham and it is very exciting to think about being a part of that."

The 23-year-old, who made his senior debut for France in August 2006 - scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory over Bosnia - is also aiming to enjoy further success on the international stage, with next summer's European Championship Finals in Austria and Switzerland a clear target.

"I hope so, because that is very important to me," he says. "First of all, though, I have to prove myself to the manager Alan Curbishley and win a place in the West Ham team.

"If I can play in every game then I hope that the national team coach will recognise me and give me more opportunities to represent my country, which is a fantastic honour.

"This is a big step for me and I am looking forward to my future here in England. It is a very exciting opportunity and I hope I can be part of great success at West Ham United."