West ham have completed the signing of Edson Álvarez from Ajax, for a fee in the region of €40m.
The midfielder has signed a five-year contract with The Hammers, and, in an interview with the club’s website, expressed his excitement and determination when stating: “It’s a hugely sentimental moment for me in my career. To join a club like a West Ham is a dream for me and my family.”
“The Premier League is a special league, the best league in the world and I think my style will suit it. I now have a responsibility to West Ham and the West Ham family and I will give absolutely everything for the shirt.”
Since making a €15m move to the Dutch giants from his boyhood side Club Ámerica in July 2019, The 25-year-old has made 147 appearances for the side in all competitions, helping them to back-to-back Eredivisie titles in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. Predominantly playing in defensive midfield to screen the back-line and disrupt opposition attacks, Álvarez possesses an excellent ability to win the ball back for his side- both on the ground and in the air- whilst also being a reliable and progressive passer in possession.
As a result, although he is also capable of playing as a central defender, the Mexican international will most likely replace former club captain Declan Rice at the base of David Moyes’ midfield this season- who recently departed for a club record fee of £105m to London rivals Arsenal.
Álvarez will be the east London side’s first signing this summer, but more are expected to join him in the coming days, with the Claret and Blues already having agreed two separate £30m deals for Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.
Moyes will hope the moves for the two England international’s can be completed before this Saturday 12 August, where West Ham will begin their new campaign by hosting Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at the London Stadium.
Travis Levison | Get Football
