PLAYER PROFILE

Tyrone Mears

Position: Defence

Height: 5'10

Weight: 12st 3lbs

Date of Birth: 1983-02-18 Stockport, England

Tyrone Mears

West Ham United completed the signing of defender Tyrone Mears from Preston North End in July 2006 for an initial fee of £1million.

The 23-year-old penned a four-year contract at Upton Park to finally bring to an end Hammers boss Alan Pardew's search for a new right-back.

Pardew had been without a regular for the position since Tomas Repka left the club in January, with loanee Lionel Scaloni failing to impress during the second half of 2005/06.

The Hammers saw bids for Wigan's Pascal Chimbonda and Charlton's Luke Young rejected, but persuaded Preston to part with the promising Mears after agreeing a deal which could eventually be worth £1.9million, depending on appearances and international caps.

Mears began his career as a trainee at Manchester City, but made just one first-team appearance before joining the Lilywhites in a £175,000 deal in 2002.

He went on to play 70 League games for Preston, despite struggling with injuries for much of his spell at Deepdale.

In January 2007, having failed to make much impact at West Ham, he joined Derby County on loan. The deal was made permanent in July of the same year.