Ben-Haim to reunite with Grant at West Ham

28-year-old Israeli defender set to make move from relegated Portsmouth.

By ALLON SINAI
Tal Ben-Haim (photo credit: John McConnico/AP/File)
Tal Ben-Haim
(photo credit: John McConnico/AP/File)
Tal Ben-Haim is set to renew his partnership with Avraham Grant after agreeing to join West Ham United from Portsmouth.
The 28-year-old Israeli defender played for Grant at Pompey last season and was also guided by the former national team boss at Chelsea in the 2007/08 campaign.
Cash-strapped Portsmouth, which was relegated from the Premier League last season, has been looking to off-load Ben- Haim since the start of the transfer window, and his departure is now imminent after agreeing to take a pay-cut to move to the East End of London.
Ben-Haim will be joining his sixth English Premier League club.
After three successful seasons at Bolton, Ben-Haim made a total of 27 league appearances in the next two campaigns, struggling to hold down a regular place at Chelsea, Man City and on-loan at Sunderland.
However, last season at Portsmouth, Ben-Haim was back playing every week, appearing in 22 league matches.
The expected addition of Ben-Haim will cap a busy weekend for Grant, who signed forwards Frederic Piquionne and Pablo Barrera on Friday.
The 23-year-old Barrera joined from Mexican club Pumas on a four-year deal for four million pounds ($6 million) and West Ham has the option to sign the winger for a further year.
Piquionne, 31, joined on a three-year deal from Lyon after spending last season on loan at Portsmouth with Grant, who left Fratton Park to take over at West Ham last month. Financial details weren’t disclosed.
Barrera and Piquionne joined a day after the London club completed the signing of Thomas Hitzlsperger when the Germany midfielder was granted a British work permit.
West Ham, which finished one place above the relegation zone last season, begins the new Premier League season against Aston Villa on August 14.
AP contributed to this report