Transfer Centre

Joe Hart: 'Not many options for permanent move'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 13 August 2017

On-loan West Ham United goalkeeper Joe Hart admits that he 'did not have many options' to leave Manchester City on a permanent deal this summer.

Joe Hart has admitted that he 'did not have many options' to leave Manchester City on a permanent deal this summer.

Hart, 30, spent the 2016-17 campaign on loan at Italian club Torino after being deemed surplus to requirements following Pep Guardiola's arrival at the Etihad Stadium.

The England international has again left the Citizens this summer to join West Ham United on loan, and despite ideally wanting a permanent move, Hart has revealed that he cannot wait to turn out for the Hammers.

"The permanent was going to be difficult. I don't think there were too many options for me to go on a permanent, if any. That was my ideal situation," Hart told The Telegraph. "When you've asked me questions I've always answered honestly and, ideally, I wanted to be signing a permanent deal somewhere, so I could set my life up and have a direction.

"But that wasn't meant to be and West Ham have been absolutely fantastic towards me, I can't be any more grateful for the opportunity they have given me.

"Slaven [Bilic] has come and [owners] Mr [David] Gold and Mr [David] Sullivan have come in and made their intentions clear that they want me to be here, and I'm over the moon to be a part of this club. There wasn't an awful lot of movement goalkeeper-wise this summer, so I'm very grateful to get this opportunity."

Hart is expected to make his West Ham debut in Sunday's Premier League clash away to Manchester United.