Bellamy, 28 later this week, has agreed to a five-year deal that will cost the Londoners a club record 7.5 million pounds (11 million euros).

Bellamy's future at Anfield was left in doubt after the signing last week of Spain international Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid.

The transfer was agreed on Friday but was delayed over the weekend as Bellamy thrashed out contractual issues with Liverpool.

The Wales captain is West Ham's fourth summer signing and takes manager Alan Curbishley's spending since he arrived at Upton Park in December to nearly 40 million pounds (60 million euros).

Bellamy joins midfielders Scott Parker and Julien Faubert plus goalkeeper Richard Wright in signing for the Hammers this summer.

The striker, who had short spells at Newcastle, Celtic and Blackburn before only staying a year at Liverpool said West Ham, who avoided relegation on the last day of the season, could challenge for a European place.

"I want to play in Europe, it's important to me, and I felt that same drive and ambition here at West Ham.

"Obviously it would be naive of me to say we are going to qualify for the Champions League next season but that's one thing we are really going to be pushing for here in the future."

His move breaks West Ham's previous transfer record of 7.25 million pounds, which the Hammers paid Norwich for Dean Ashton in January 2006.

Bellamy will effectively replace Carlos Tevez, whose proposed move to Manchester United is on the brink of being completed.

West Ham were fined 5.5 million pounds in April after being found guilty of acting improperly and withholding vital documentation over the ownership of Tevez and Javier Mascherano, who is now at Liverpool.

Tevez played a key role in West Ham staying up at the expense of relegated Sheffield United who saw their claim for a points deduction against the Hammers recently rejected by a Premiership appeal tribunal.