Calum Davenport has revealed that West Ham is the "only club" he would have left Tottenham Hotspur for after joining the Irons in a £3million deal.

The 24-year-old, who spent two happy months at Upton Park in the autumn of 2004, revealed how he jumped at the chance to return to the East End - despite the efforts of Spurs boss Martin Jol to keep him at White Hart Lane.

"The loan spell feels like a lifetime ago, and a lot has happened in my career since then, but I'm delighted to be back," said the former England under-21 international.

"I've been happy with my form at Spurs and with Ledley King being out injured I thought it might have been difficult for me to leave.

"But I spoke to the manager (Martin Jol) and he knows how much West Ham means to me after my time here on loan and thankfully he agreed to let me come here.

"It was bad timing for him and he said he would have liked me to stay, but my heart was set on coming to West Ham."

Davenport's loan move to the Irons came just nine days after Tottenham had signed him from Coventry City in a £1.5million deal.

And the Bedford-born centre-back said it was the warm welcome he received at West Ham that had made him so keen to return.

"It was a big move for me at the time, and they made me feel at home here.

"I love playing at Upton Park in front of the big, passionate crowd and I wouldn't have joined any club other than West Ham."

Davenport also claimed he was not put-off by the prospect of swapping UEFA Cup-chasing Tottenham for the Hammers' relegation battle.

"It's obviously going to be difficult but it's a challenge I am ready for. We need results quickly," he added.

Alan Curbishley was happy to secure the services of Davenport, who made ten Championship appearances during the Irons' promotion season.

"I am delighted we have got him. He has been here before and knows the set-up already and, above all, knows how to get to the training ground before 11 o'clock," he said.

"He's a player that we know is fully fit and has been playing regularly."

The towering defender's last match at Upton Park came in the Hammers' dramatic 2-1 victory over Spurs on the final day of last season.