official confirm
O'Hara Joins!
Posted on: Tue 21 Jun 2011
Wolves are delighted to announce their first signing of the summer after landing Jamie O'Hara on a permanent basis following the midfielder's impressive loan spell at Molineux last season.
The England-under-21 international has agreed a five-year-contract to become a permanent Wolves player after his loan from Tottenham expires on June 30.
In keeping with club policy, the fee will remain undisclosed.
O'Hara arrived at Wolves from Spurs in January, after seven months on the sidelines following back surgery to cure an injury which had affected him in the closing stages of, individually at least, a successful season on loan with Portsmouth.
But he quickly found his feet, his first start coming in the defeat over Manchester United and his first goal - a spectacular one at that - following just two games later amid the small matter of the first ever Barclays Premier League Black Country derby against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
The superb strike was enough to earn O'Hara the Wolves Goal of the Year award at the end of the season, following on from the raft of individual awards he picked up at Pompey.
He also scored in the following game against Blackpool, and then again on the final day against Blackburn, to return with a highly respectable tally of three goals from 14 appearances in the centre of midfield.
Throughout the loan spell the 24-year-old Londoner has been at pains to stress how settled he was with his family in the area and how much he was enjoying his football.
Wolves CEO Jez Moxey said: "We are delighted to make Jamie our first confirmed signing of the summer particularly given the impressive loan spell he enjoyed with us over the second half of last season.
"He made a very positive impact both on and off the pitch and played a key role in helping us achieve our aim of Barclays Premier League survival.
"What is more, he settled very well at the club and his attitude and ability epitomises what the manager looks for in each and every member of his squad.
"Our desire to sign Jamie was evident in the option agreed with Tottenham to potentially make the loan deal permanent at the end of the season.
"I can confirm we exercised the option as soon as the campaign had finished but as ever at this time of year, holidays for various parties meant we couldn't announce anything until now.
"Given how keen Jamie was to join us, we always knew it was just a matter of completing the formalities.
"With those formalities complete, Jamie has agreed a five year contract and will become a permanent signing on July 1 at the end of his loan spell.
"In keeping with Club policy, the financial terms of the transfer will remain undisclosed."
"We are all looking forward to Jamie getting a full pre-season completed, something he missed last year, and playing an integral part from the beginning of next season during which we hope, and expect, him to be even more effective player for Wolves in the Premier League."
O'Hara came through Tottenham's Academy but had loan spells with Chesterfield and Millwall at the start of his career.
He made over 50 appearances in total for Spurs, including in European competition and the final of the 2009 League Cup, and scored seven goals.
The loan spell with Portsmouth saw O'Hara net three goals in 29 appearances, helping the club to the FA Cup Final where he played in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Boasting seven caps at England-under-21 level, O'Hara remained contracted to White Hart Lane until 2013 but instead will now return for pre-season with the Wolves squad on July 4.
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