Winger Sofiane Feghouli eager to sample delights of Premier League after joining West Ham on free transfer
New West Ham signing Sofiane Feghouli admits the lure of playing Premier League football was too attractive a proposition to decline after completing a move to the Hammers on a free transfer.
The three-year deal, which was announced today, will see the 26-year-old Algerian international officially join West Ham on 1 July, having seen out his contract with La Liga side Valencia.
Feghouli is West Ham’s second recruit of an already busy summer after luring Borussia Monchengladbach’s Norway midfielder Havard Nordtveit, while midfielder Manuel Lanzini’s loan deal has been made permanent.
“Playing in the Premier League is very important for players in their career and I am happy to play for the Hammers,” said Feghouli. “I am very happy to sign for the Hammers and for [manager] Slaven Bilic. The history of the club is important for me in my decision.”
Feghouli spent six seasons with Valencia after joining from French outfit Grenoble in 2010 and proceeded to score 42 goals in 243 appearances at the Mestalla.
The Paris-born wingman represented France at under-18 and under-21 level before switching his allegiance to Algeria, while he scored his country’s first World Cup goal in 28 years against Belgium in 2014.
Feghouli is unlikely to be the final piece in Slaven Bilic’s jigsaw before West Ham’s maiden season at the Olympic Stadium. On Monday Bilic confirmed he was interested in signing Besiktas duo Atiba Hutchinson and Gokhan Tore.