West Ham United have announced the signing of Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Havard Nordtveit on a free transfer.
Norway international Nordtveit, 25, has agreed a five-year deal with the Hammers.
.@NFF_info star Havard Nordtveit will join West Ham on 1 July 2016 ➡️ https://t.co/d30iVCc8Vj #HavardIsAHammer pic.twitter.com/ktiDF6uRL8
- West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) May 16, 2016
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic had confirmed in March that he was interested in signing Nordtveit, who was on the books at Arsenal earlier in his career but left in 2010.
Nordtveit told West Ham's official website: "It has always been a dream for me to play in the Premier League and now I have a big opportunity to do that for West Ham -- I cannot wait to start!
"This team has something special, a spirit in the team that I can fit into. I will work hard and hopefully I can get some good moments at this club.
"I'm a player who can play many roles on the pitch, but I'm from Norway so maybe a little bit more running, tackles and try to spread a few balls around me.
"I'm looking forward to showing what I can do, but hopefully I have something to help West Ham achieve even more."
The versatile 25-year-old has 171 @bundesliga_de appearances and 28 caps for @NFF_info to his name #HavardIsAHammer pic.twitter.com/eajjpEtwNc
- West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) May 16, 2016
Nordtveit said Bilic had played a "big part" in his decision to join the Hammers and is relishing the chance to make his Premier League debut after being unable to do so at Arsenal.
"I came to Arsenal when I was 17 and from there I got a lot of first team experience in training and friendlies," he said. "I sat on the bench in the Premier League, but never got a minute, so of course it's something I'm dreaming of.
"Now I'm back, I've had five-and-a-half years in the Bundesliga. Hopefully that experience will help me to come into the game here."
He joins West Ham ahead of their first season at the 60,000-capacity Olympic Stadium and hopes the supporters can have the same impact as the Gladbach fans.
"That's football -- that's the passion they have," he said. "In Germany, we had an average of 52,000 every second week at Borussia Park, so 100 percent you have the audience behind you and you can give even more. I'm looking forward to trying out the new stadium -- everyone is saying good things about it."
Nordtveit, who spent time on loan at Salamanca, Lillestrom and Nurnburg when he was with Arsenal, has made 187 in all competitions appearances for Gladbach and has 28 caps for Norway.