YOSSI Benayoun has signed a new five-year contract to keep him at West Ham until 2012.

The Israeli midfielder had been linked with a move away from Upton Park, but said: "From the first moment I arrived at West Ham, the club felt like home to me. We have the best supporters in England. The natural thing for me was to sign a new deal and I'm very happy."

He said discussions with chairman Eggert Magnusson proved a key factor in his decision to stay. "The chairman is very ambitious and I want to thank him because the negotiations were very quick. He and the manager showed me they wanted me to stay immediately. Hopefully I will pay them back on the pitch and I will do everything in my power to match their ambition.

"I'm sure we'll have a better season next season because we have players with a lot of quality. We will also have new players coming in to make us stronger and better. I'm very pleased because it is the best place for me."

Benayoun joined Hammers from Racing Santander for £2.5m on a four-year deal in 2005. He came close to signing a new five-year deal last September.