Ilunga leaves Hammers

Herita Ilunga has been released from his contract at West Ham with immediate effect after the player came to a mutual agreement with club.

Defender's contract is cancelled by mutual consent

Congolese defender Herita Ilunga has been released from his contract at West Ham with immediate effect after the player came to a mutual agreement with club. The 29-year-old - who first made his debut for the Hammers in 2008 on loan from Toulouse - played his last game for Sam Allardyce's team in the 2-1 Carling Cup defeat to Aldershot back in August and has been playing on loan at Championship rivals Doncaster since October. Ilunga moved to the Boleyn Ground on a permanent basis for a fee of £3million in the summer of 2009 - and leaves having played 73 games for the club, netting three goals. A statement on the Hammers' official website said: "The club would like to thank Herita for his service and wish him well for the future."