Matthew Upson (Defender)
Squad Number: 15
Position: Defender
Born: 18th Apr 1979 (Suffolk)
Signed: 31st Jan 2007 (£6,000,000)
Contract: 4½ years
Previous Club: Birmingham
KUMB Awards: Player of the Year (runner up) 2008/09, (third place) 2007/08; Most Improved Player (third place) 2007/08; Worst Signing 2006/07; Worst Player of the Year 2010/11.
Matthew Upson finally joined the Hammers four years after he was first linked with the club during the reign of Glenn Roeder.
He became Alan Curbishley's sixth and final signing of the January 2007 transfer window, moving to East London for a ?6m switch (with a further ?1.5m to follow depending upon appearances) from Championship outfit Birmingham City - much to the chagrin of Blues manager Steve Bruce who was hugely disappointed that his board sold the player against his wishes.
Upson began his career with Luton Town before he moved to Arsenal in a ?2m deal in 1997. After making just 28 starts in six years he left the Gunners to join Birmingham City for a giveaway ?1m.
Upson so impressed during his first year in the Midlands that he was called up for England the following year, and he went on to represent his country seven times before Birmingham were relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2005/06 season.
After bids of ?4m and ?6m were rejected by the Blues, Alan Curbishley finally got his man at the third time of asking on transfer deadline day.
