Al Ain sign former West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko on one-year deal

Ukraine international joins UAE champions following the end of his contract with the Premier League side

Andriy Yarmolenko during his unveiling as an Al Ain player at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Photo: Al Ain FC

Andriy Yarmolenko during his unveiling as an Al Ain player at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Photo: Al Ain FC

Andriy Yarmolenko during his unveiling as an Al Ain player at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Photo: Al Ain FC

Andriy Yarmolenko during his unveiling as an Al Ain player at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Photo: Al Ain FC

Andriy Yarmolenko of Ukraine celebrates after a goal is scored during the Uefa Nations League match against Northern Ireland in Lodz, Poland, 14 June 2022. EPA

Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko, second right, reacts during the Nations League match against Northern Ireland. AP Photo

Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko has signed for UAE club Al Ain after leaving West Ham United. AP

Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko reacts following the World Cup 2022 Qualifier play-off final defeat to Wales at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday June 5, 2022. PA

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey fights for the ball with Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko. AFP

Andriy Yarmolenko of Ukraine lines up on the pitch with their countries flag prior to the match against Wales. Getty Images

Andriy Yarmolenko of Ukraine celebrates with fans after the World Cup qualifying victory over Scotland at Hampden Park on June 01, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. Getty Images

Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko celebrates scoring against Scotland. PA

Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko, left, duels for the ball with Scotland's Liam Cooper. AP Photo

West Ham's Andriy Yarmolenko heads the ball under pressure from Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek during the Premier League match against West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in London, Sunday, April 24, 2022. AP Photo

West Ham United's Andriy Yarmolenko during the warm up before the match against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final at Goupama Stadium, Lyon, on April 14, 2022. PA

West Ham United's Ukraine striker Andriy Yarmolenko and compatriot Vitaliy Mykolenko of Everton after the Premier League match at the London Stadium, London on Sunday April 3, 2022. PA

West Ham United's Andriy Yarmolenko applauds fans after the match against Tottenham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 20, 2022. Reuters

Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham United gives his match shirt to a fan holding a Ukrainian flag to indicate peace and sympathy with Ukraine after victory during the Europa League Round of 16 second leg against Sevilla at London Stadium on March 17, 2022 in London, England. Getty Images

A flag is seen in support of Ukraine amid Russia's invasion as West Ham United's Andriy Yarmolenko celebrates with the fans after the match. Reuters

Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham United celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Sevilla. Getty Images

Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham United scores past Yassine Bounou of Sevilla. Getty Images

West Ham United's Andriy Yarmolenko celebrates scoring. PA

Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham United applauds fans whilst warming up. Getty Images

West Ham United's Andriy Yarmolenko. PA

UAE champions Al Ain have signed former Dynamo Kyiv, Borussia Dortmund and West Ham United winger Andriy Yarmolenko.

The Ukraine international, who sits second in his country’s all-time goalscoring charts, has agreed a deal with the Garden City club through until the end of the 2022/23 season.

Al Ain announced the addition on Wednesday, with Yarmolenko telling the club’s supporters via video on social media: “Hello Al Ain fans. I’m happy to join this big club. I promise you to fight for this t-shirt.”

Yarmolenko, 32, left West Ham last month having spent four seasons with the Premier League side. After joining from Dortmund in 2018, the Ukrainian went on to score 13 goals and register seven assists in 86 competitive matches.

Yarmolenko has 109 caps for Ukraine, scoring 45 goals – second only to Andriy Shevchenko (48). He represented his country at the past three European Championships, in 2012, 2016 and 2020.

At Al Ain, Yarmolenko links up with compatriot Serhiy Rebrov, who in his debut campaign last season guided the club to a 14th UAE league title. Last month, Rebrov extended his contract with Al Ain for another season.