LIVERPOOL today confirmed the departure of Joe Cole to West Ham on a free transfer.
The midfielder left Anfield after a two-and-a-half-year spell with the Reds following his transfer from Chelsea in July 2010.
Cole made a total of 42 appearances for Liverpool, scoring five goals – the last of which came against his new employers in December.
Cole, 31, underwent a medical at the Hammers’ training ground yesterday.
West Ham, who brought Cole through their youth academy in the 1990s, will have the midfielder available to play in tomorrow’s FA Cup third round clash against Manchester United.
Cole has started just nine Premier League games since he swapped Chelsea for Liverpool in the summer of 2010, and spent last season on loan at French club Lille.
It has been reported that Liverpool have paid Cole a negotiated settlement in order to get his estimated £100,000-a-week salary off the wage bill.
