As featured on NewsNow: Football news

WEST HAM: Will London Stadium move and solid summer of signings pay off for the Hammers?

An exciting season awaits West Ham United who have made their much-awaited move into the London Olympic Stadium.

The East Londoners will be hoping fill the ground to create memorable occasions this season, just like they constantly experienced at Upton Park's Boleyn Ground.

After a 7th-placed finish in his first season at the helm, Slaven Bilic has moved to further strengthen his squad with 12 new players.

The Hammers fans can expect more exciting football and attacking endeavour from their team this year.


West Ham United - 2016/17

Key signings


Andre Ayew - from Swansea City for £20m

Ayew impressed significantly in his debut campaign last season for Swansea City, which prompted West Ham to fork out £20m for the Ghanian international.

Ayew reached double figures as the silky forward netted 12 goals and provided five assists as the Swans finished 12th.

As well as a goalscorer he is also a creative player and will link up well with the likes of Dimitri Payet, striker Andy Carroll and right winger Michail Antono.

Despite costing what he did just 12 months arriving in England for nothing, at 26 he has lots of potential and years ahead of him.

A thigh injury has him sidelined until late November.


Alvaro Arbeloa - from Real Madrid for free

A shrewd signing made by Bilic, Arbeloa is an experienced right-back having been released by Real Madrid in the summer.

Arbeloa man spent seven years at the Santiago Bernabeu, racking up close to 240 appearances on his way to two Champions League titles, one La Liga championship and two Copa Del Reys, along with a World Cup and two Euros with Spain.

The 33 year-old is no stranger, of course, to the Premier League, spending two years at Liverpool between 2007-09 where he played 22 times in the Champions League and on 66 occasions in the Premier League.

The veteran is a good addition who gives his new club added strength in depth across the defence, mainly as cover for promising youngster Sam Byram.


Simone Zaza - from Juventus on loan

Despite Zaza's disastrous penalty miss during Italy's Euro2016 shootout, he still has the ability to find the net having scored 11 Serie A goals for Sassuolo in the 2014/15 campaign.

Zaza also scored eight times in 24 outings in all competitions for Juventus but his chances with the Italian champions were set to dwindle even further following the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain.

Having failed to fully make an impact with the Bianconeri last season, Zaza will be keen to impress Bilic and score goals on a regular basis which he has done throughout his career.


Sofiane Feghouli - from Valencia for free

Feghouli spent six successful years at Valencia before moving to West Ham on a free transfer in July.

He is a 26 year-old Algerian winger who has appeared 40 times for his county since 2012. Injuries restricted him to 21 games last season but if he stays fit throughout this campaign, he could become an important play for West Ham and their fans will be keen to see what he can do.

Scored 31 goals and provided 40 assists in 202 appearances for Valencia and Bilic will be hoping the can be a creative outlet down the right.


Harvard Nordtveit - from Borussia Monchengladbach for free

West Ham locked the Norwegian in very early, such was Bilic's desire to bring him to East London.

Nordtveit is a 26-year-old defensive midfielder who has previously spent time with Arsenal and has been capped 28 times by his country.

Was a key figure for Gladbach last season and managed to experience Champions League football for the very first time. Notched over 170 Bundesliga appearances for with both Gladbch and Nuremberg.

Has already showed a bit in three Europa League and two Premier League outings before picking up a foot injury.


Ashley Fletcher - from Manchester United for free

The talented striker joined the Hammers after graduating from the Man Utd youth academy.

20-year-old Fletcher was a vital player while on loan at Barnsley last season, scoring in their victorious Football League Trophy final, while also finding the back of the net in the Championship play-off final which saw them promoted form League One.

Has a wonderful future ahead of him and is expected to flourish if given chances in East London, which is likely under Bilic.


Arthur Masuaku - from Olympiakos for £6.2m

Signed as a replacement for the injured Aaron Cresswell.

Masuaku has already impressed own three outings for the Hammers, including a lovely assist for Michail Antonio in the loss to Man City.

The 22-year-old French left-back had already amassed 103 senior appearances in Greece and in France with Valenciennes prior to his London Stadium move.


Edimilson Fernandes - from FC Sion for
£5.5m

West Ham captured the attacking midfielder from Swiss club Sion a week prior to the close of the window.

Fernandes, 20, is a Swiss U21 international and comes highly-rated having already cemented himself in Sion's first team.

Has already featured 65 at senior level, including eight Europa League appearances.

Will learn plenty from the likes of Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Ayew.


Gokhan Tore - from Besiktas on loan

The Turkish winger reunites with Bilic having played for the Croatian on almost 80 occasions at Besiktas.

Tore will operate on the right side of midfield with the view of creating plenty of chances for the West Ham forwards.

The 24-year-old has close to 150 games experience at senior level with the likes of Hamburg, Rubin Kazan and Bayer Leverkusen and has tallied 26 caps for Turkey.


Jonathan Calleri - from Deportivo Maldonado on loan

Promoting Argentine striker who has enjoyed a strange pathway to England.

Calleri did well for Boca Juniors before joining Uruguayan club Maldonado in January 2016, before being loaned to Brazilian giant Sao Paulo.

The Argentina U23 international has already scored 38 goals at senior level.

Signed for a season with the view to a permanent deal, just like Lanzini.


Overall

West Ham have lost defender James Tomkins to Crystal Palace but apart form that they have lost little else while recruiting well.

The additions of Ayew and Feghouli are intriguing signings who will hope to set alight their new stadium.

Crucially they have kept hold of Dimitri Payet who was their star player last season and he will once again play a key role.

Overall a good transfer window for the Hammers and Slaven Bilic


Tribal's Transfer Rating:
7/10

Video of the day:

Andrew Slevison
About the author

Andrew Slevison

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free