Sofiane Feghouli to West Ham: Latest Transfer Details and Reaction
June 14, 2016
West Ham United are set to sign Algeria international winger Sofiane Feghouli on a free transfer, it was confirmed on Tuesday.
The Valencia man’s acquisition was revealed by the club’s official Twitter feed, with the 26-year-old penning a three-year deal that will start on July 1:
Feghouli’s contract with the Spanish side is up at the end of this month, ending six years at the Mestalla. He represented Valencia 146 times in La Liga, netting 20 goals in the progress. He has also represented his country on 40 occasions.
“I am very happy to sign for the Hammers and for [manager] Slaven Bilic,” he told the club’s official website. “The history of the club is important for me in my decision. Playing in the Premier League is very important for players in their careers, and I am happy to play for the Hammers.”
Here is a look at what West Ham fans can expect from their latest signing at the Olympic Stadium next season:
Feghouli moved to Valencia in 2010 after a successful stint with Grenoble. He cemented his status in the first team with Los Che after a spell on loan with Almeria, offering a dynamic and persistent threat on the right flank.
On the international stage, he has represented Algeria at three major tournaments and was especially impressive at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he netted against Belgium.
Squawka Football offered a statistical breakdown of what kind of attributes Feghouli will bring to the east London club in 2015-16:
Feghouli is the right kind of fit for Bilic’s side. While he has class on the ball, the Algeria man also has an appetite for the game. He works well on the right flank, happy to forage back and help in defence as well as bursting forward into dangerous areas. Additionally, he’ll be another West Ham player that excels in the air.
The Algeria man should thrive in English football due to his vibrant and industrious playing style, and in a manner not too dissimilar to his new team-mate Dimitri Payet, those diligent qualities will give him a foothold in matches from which he can show his quality.
As we can see courtesy of WhoScored.com, Feghouli has shown his visionary traits consistently in La Liga:
Given his standing in the game, age and Valencia’s own recent decline, the time is right for Feghouli to embark on a new challenge. At times he’s been a little frustrated in the white jersey and alongside cerebral attacking stars like Payet and Manuel Lanzini, has the chance to help forge a formidable attacking setup at West Ham.
The Hammers deserve great credit for this piece of business, especially having already landed Havard Nordtveit in a similar deal. With new players incoming and a new stadium to move into next season, the club are on the cusp of an exciting spell in their existence.