Razvan Rat feels re-energised after agreeing to join West Ham from Shakhtar Donetsk, where he has been for the past 10 years.
The 32-year-old defender, who is expected to captain Romania in their friendly international with Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, will join the Hammers officially on July 1.
“For me it is a challenge and new motivation,” he told Shakhtar’s official website. “For the new team (West Ham), I will try to prove to them that I am coming from a team that played in the Champions League and that I have a high level of skill.
“I also have to meet the expectations of my new club, where they are sure I will spend three years. I will demonstrate to them precisely the level I’ve shown here.”
Rat has lifted seven Ukrainian Premier League titles, four Ukrainian Cups and the UEFA Cup in 2009. The defender has featured in exactly 300 games for Shakhtar including 57 UEFA Champions League appearances.
Joking about plans for Joe Cole’s number 26 shirt, he told Shakhtar’s official website: “I will try to move him and get his number 26.”
He will join up with his new West Ham team-mates when they return for pre-season training in July.
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