Ghanaian international John Paintsil has joined English Premiership side West Ham United in a deal worth 1million pounds.

The former Liberty Professionals player was snapped up by the Hammers after spending time on trials with them in Sweden.

His move from Happoel Tel Aviv in Israel to England is the first high profile move involving a member of the Ghana squad after the 2006 World Cup.

A regular for Ghana in that competition at right back, Paintsil can also play in central defence and in midfield.

He arrives at West Ham with enormous international experience after representing Ghana at the U-20 level where he won silver at the world youth championships in 2001 as well as the 2006 African Cup of Nations and the World Cup.

Paintsil’s arrival at West Ham makes him only the fifth Ghanaian international after Tony Yeboah, Nii Odartey Lamptey, Alex Nyarko and Michael Essien to play his trade in the well respected English Premiership.