West Ham United confirm Roger Johnson loan

West Ham United have announced the capture of Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Roger Johnson on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Reports surfaced on Monday that the 30-year-old was close to joining the Premier League outfit as manager Sam Allardyce looked to reinforce his injury-hit defence.

The Upton Park outfit have now confirmed that Johnson, who had been on a temporary deal at Sheffield Wednesday since September, will return to the top-flight, from where he was relegated with both Wolves and Birmingham City, to join up with the Hammers, who are currently 19th in the table.

A statement on the club's official website read: "West Ham United are pleased to confirm the signing of centre-back Roger Johnson on loan for the remainder of the 2013-14 season."

New Zealand centre-back Winston Reid has been absent with an ankle injury since early November and was recently joined on the sidelines by fellow defenders James Collins and James Tomkins.