JAVIER’S A HAMMER FOR £16M
Hernandez signs to end long search for a striker
West Ham have made Javier Hernandez the best-paid player at the club after confirming the striker’s £ 16million signing from Bayer Leverkusen.
the former manchester United man has agreed a three-year deal worth £140,000 a week, ending West Ham’s long search for a goalscorer.
the deal to sign Hernandez was announced last week and was completed yesterday after the player had a medical in London. Hernandez will now fly to Germany to meet manager slaven Bilic and his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp.
the striker, who will have the nickname ‘Chicharito’ on his shirt, said: ‘I am very happy to join West Ham United. For me, the Premier League is the best in the world and when the opportunity came I was desperate to sign for this club.
‘It was not a difficult decision. West Ham is an historic club, and very ambitious — this summer you can see with the players signed that they are looking to have a very good season.
‘I’ve had three fantastic years in spain and Germany, but england was the first big chapter in my career and I am so happy to be back.
‘I am desperate for the season to start and to help the team achieve all their objectives.’
Hernandez (right) becomes the 33rd striker signed by co-owners David sullivan and David Gold since they took over the club in January 2010, with 20 of those having failed to score more than three goals for the Hammers. sullivan said: ‘Following the arrivals of Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart and marko arnautovic, Javier is another top- class professional who brings great quality to the club. ‘We now have fantastic options in attacking positions and, like all West Ham fans, I am looking forward to seeing Javier score goals in a claret and blue shirt next season.’ Hernandez failed to fulfil his massive potential at Old trafford — scoring 59 goals in a five-year spell — but he arrives at the London stadium after two impressive seasons in the Bundesliga. the 29-year- old scored 26 goals in his first campaign at Leverkusen and followed it up with 12 in an injury-hit 2016-17. Bilic has been desperate to sign a forward since injuries to andy Carroll and Diafra sakho left him fielding loanee Jonathan Calleri — who scored one deflected goal in 19 appearances — up front.