Hammers move for Johnson
West Ham United have signed centre-back Roger Johnson on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers06.01.2014
West Ham United are pleased to confirm the signing of centre-back Roger Johnson on loan for the remainder of the 2013/14 season.
Johnson joins the Hammers from Sky Bet League One high-fliers Wolverhampton Wanderers and could go straight into the squad for Wednesday's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg tie at Manchester City.
A League Cup winner with Birmingham City in 2011, the 30-year-old reached the FA Cup final with Cardiff City in 2008 and has made more than 100 Premier League appearances for Birmingham and Wolves.
Johnson will boost Sam Allardyce's defensive options, with centre-backs Winston Reid, James Collins and James Tomkins all recovering from injuries at present.
Born in Surrey, Johnson became Wycombe Wanderers' youngest-ever player when he made his debut just eight days past his 17th birthday in May 1999. The following season, 2000/01, he helped the Chairboys to reach the FA Cup semi-finals as a Division Two side.
After four seasons as a first-team regular, Johnson celebrated being named in the 2005/06 League Two Team of the Year by making a £275,000 move to Cardiff City in July 2006. Johnson quickly established himself in the Welsh capital, making 136 appearances over four seasons, including the 2008 FA Cup final defeat by Portsmouth at Wembley.
After being named in the Championship Team of the Year in 2008/09, Johnson's stock had risen to an all-time high, tempting Premier League new boys Birmingham to spend £5m to add him to their squad in June 2009.
At St Andrew's, Johnson formed an outstanding partnership with Scott Dann as the Blues went on a 16-match unbeaten run between October 2009 and January 2010. Birmingham would finish the season in ninth place.
The following campaign, 2010/11, brought a mixture of elation and disappointment for Johnson as he scored a late equaliser against West Ham at St Andrew's to help the Blues win their thrilling League Cup semi-final with the Hammers and went on to lift the trophy, only to suffer relegation after losing four of their last five Premier League matches.
Relegation did not affect Johnson's value, however, as Wolves spent a reported £7m to take him to Molineux in July 2011. Playing alongside Matt Jarvis, Johnson was appointed captain and made 28 appearances, but was unfortunately unable to prevent Wolves from being relegated from the Premier League.
Johnson was again a regular last season, making 42 Championship appearances and scoring twice for the Black Country club. This term, with Wolves seeking to cut their wage bill, the centre-back has spent three months on loan at Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, playing 17 times.
http://www.whufc.com/articles/20140106/hammers-move-for-johnson_2236884_3606490
