ARSENAL midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg joined Premier League rival West Ham United on Monday for a fee that could rise to 3 million pounds (US$6.17 million).

Sweden captain Ljungberg was the longest-serving player in the Arsenal squad after joining in 1998.

The 30-year-old Sweden captain, who joined Arsenal in 1998 and played a major part in its successes over the last decade, has signed a four-year deal at Upton Park.

West Ham presented the player at a news conference after he had passed a medical.

He made more than 300 appearances and scored over 70 goals for Arsenal.

Ljungberg became the first player for 40 years to score in successive English FA Cup finals with goals in both the 2001 and 2002 finals in Cardiff.

Last season Ljungberg, Arsenal’s longest-serving player, suffered a string of injuries that restricted him to 26 games. (SD-Agencies)