Joey O’Brien to leave West Ham after five years

Republic of Ireland defender played only seven times last season

Republic of Ireland defender Joey O’Brien will leave West Ham after five years. Photograph:    Daniel Hambury/PA Wire
Republic of Ireland defender Joey O’Brien will leave West Ham after five years. Photograph: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire

West Ham have confirmed that Republic of Ireland defender Joey O’Brien will leave the club after five years when his contract expires at the end of June.

The Irons issued their retained list on Tuesday afternoon, which also showed Cameroon midfielder Alex Song would return to his parent club Barcelona following the end of his season-long loan spell while winger Victor Moses goes back to Chelsea and Nigeria forward Emmanuel Emenike to Fenerbahce.

O’Brien, 30, joined West Ham on a free transfer from Bolton in June 2011, helping the east London club win promotion back to the Premier League via the 2012 Championship play-off final at Wembley.

However, last season the full back made just seven first-team appearances, five of those coming in the Europa League qualifiers and two in the FA Cup, taking his total tally to 105 with three goals.

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West Ham also revealed 21-year-old striker Elliot Lee, who had a loan spell at Colchester last season, was one of several youngsters not to be offered new terms as manager Slaven Bilic prepares his squad for life at the Olympic Stadium.

They have already brought in Norway international Havard Nordtveit earlier in the summer, but have seen reported interest in Carlos Bacca, Alexandre Lacazette and Callum Wilson fail to materialise.

Co-chairman David Sullivan, however, confirmed earlier this week five bids are in for new players as the club aims for signings with "good value" in a "potty" market, having been apparently priced out of any interest in Leicester striker Jamie Vardy.

Out-of-contract Nice winger Jeremy Pied is said to be one reported target along with Lacazette's Lyon strike partner Nabil Fekir.