Welcome back, George

George McCartney has completed his return to West Ham United in what will be his third spell at the club.

The popular Irish full-back initially joined United back in August 2006 when he was signed by Alan Pardew in exchange for the now retired Clive Clarke plus £600,000.

Two years later he was sold back to the Black Cats in a deal thought to be worth around £4.5million. The enforced sale of McCartney, combined with that of Anton Ferdinand, was the catalyst for the departure of former manager Alan Curbishley who resigned from his post citing interference from above.

With West Ham relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2010/11 campaign, new manager Sam Allardyce moved to bring the 31-year-old back to the Boleyn in August of last year; McCartney re-joining West Ham on loan for the season.

Having played a major part in West Ham' promotion campaign - he made 40 appearances, starting in 38 of those - the Belfast-born defender returned to parent club Sunderland, but not before being named as the Players' Player of the Year by his peers.

Last week co-chairman David Gold confirmed that a move to bring McCartney back to West Ham on a permanent basis was close to being concluded - and on Saturday night he stated that a deal should be tied up within 24 hours.

This morning news that McCartney had completed a second return to the club on a two-year contract was confirmed on whufc.com. "I am delighted to be coming back to West Ham - and this time, on a permanent basis," he said.

"It was great to be part of the side that won promotion last season. It was a fantastic way to end the campaign and I am really looking forward to being back in the Premier League with West Ham."