Andy Carroll: West Ham sign Liverpool striker for £15m

West Ham United have completed the signing of England striker Andy Carroll from Liverpool for a club record £15m.

Carroll, 24, cost Liverpool £35m but was loaned to West Ham in August, scoring seven goals in 24 games.

The former Newcastle United forward has signed a six-year contract, with an option for a further two years.

"It's fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent," Carroll said.

The transfer fee was agreed in May, but the England international was said to be unsure about a move before a World Cup year.

Carroll added: "The fans, the lads and the club itself have been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come back here and play football.

"Since the end of the season I've had a lot of time to think, I've missed it and that's why I'm back.

"Getting promoted the season before last, then finishing where we did - we did great, and it can only get better for us.

"The way the club's being run, obviously getting the new stadium and everything like that, it's only going up."

Carroll suffered a number of injuries during his time on loan at Upton Park, with knee and hamstring problems keeping him out of action for several months.

He also picked up a heel injury on the final day of the season after landing awkwardly, with the knock keeping him out of the England squad for the post-season friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

Carroll believed he could play his way into England manager Roy Hodgson's plans if he could improve on his fitness record next term.

"I just want to keep fit now, keep scoring goals and performing week in and week out for West Ham, if I do that here, play well and keep fit, then hopefully I will get in the England team," Carroll said.

Carroll, who made his England debut in 2010 and has won nine caps, was signed by Kenny Dalglish for Liverpool on transfer deadline day in January 2011, for what remains a record fee for a British player.

He had impressed by scoring 31 times for his boyhood club Newcastle in 81 appearances, but his time at Anfield was short-lived.

Coupled with the arrival of Brendan Rodgers and a new style of play, Carroll's return of just six goals in 44 league outings for Liverpool saw him loaned to West Ham.

The Hammers' previous record signing was Matt Jarvis, for £10.75m from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2012.

In March it was announced they would be anchor tenants for the Olympic Stadium from August 2016.