New West Ham United midfielder Joe Cole has admitted that is was "surreal" rejoining the club where he began his career.

Cole completed his free transfer from Liverpool earlier today, signing an 18-month contract with the Hammers.

The 31-year-old returned to the club almost 20 years after first joining them as a youth player, and insisted that he was happy to be back at his boyhood club.

"It is great to be back where I started and very surreal, walking out on pitches where I played when I was at Under-13s," said Cole.

"It is weird, but I am happy, my family is happy and we are looking forward to it. For me, this season has been bad because there has not been a lot of playing time at Liverpool.

"The manager (Sam Allardyce) wants me to come here and play, I need to get games to come back up to fitness and match speed. I am buzzing to play and make my debut again."

Cole could make his second debut for the club in their FA Cup match against Manchester United on Saturday.