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West Ham sign Spanish midfielder Pedro Obiang

Pedro Obiang has featured for Spain at U21 level
Image: Pedro Obiang has featured for Spain at U21 level

West Ham have signed Sampdoria midfielder Pedro Obiang on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The Spanish 23-year-old moves to Upton park after playing key role in the Italian club’s seventh-place finish in Serie A last season.

Obiang has attracted the attention of a number of clubs in Italy and Spain where he was part of the Atletico Madrid academy system before moving to Sampdoria.

He has represented Spain at U17, U19 and U21 level but has yet to appear for the senior team, and is looking to the Premier League for experience that could help him push the incumbents.

"I’m very happy to have signed," Obiang told the West Ham United website.

"We have been talking about this for a long time and now I’ve finally got the chance to come here. I went on holiday after the season had finished and I was looking forward to receiving that call to tell me where and when to sign for this Club.

“I’m very excited to play in the Premier League. It’s a style of football that will help me to progress as a player and as a person, so it will be very good." 

Obiang is the first signing under new manager Slaven Bilic and the second summer signing for the club, after goalkeeper Darren Randolph joined from Birmingham City. The club also confimred it intends to make several more signings ahead of the 2015/16 season.

Bilic has set his targets high for the club with a top 10 finish his first goal.

"Then, in the space of a few seasons, with the stadium and everything, with hype, with probably a little bit more budget, with good planning and good play, nobody can stop us dreaming of European places or if we have a brilliant season to try to break into the Champions League places."

West Ham co-chairman David Gold tried to use his Twitter account to welcome Obiang to the club but was caught out when he published his tweet.

Gold posted the message: "I am delighted to announce the signing of 23 year old midfield Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria. Pedro, welcome. dg" which was accompanied by a photo of Juventus centre-back Angelo Ogbonna.

Upon realising his error, the Tweet was soon removed, but not before some light-hearted banter by Irons fans.

Gold later uploaded another message, this time with a photograph of Obiang on the pitch at Upton Park holding a claret-and-blue scarf.

The West Ham co-chairman then added: "I've just spoke to Pedro and he soundedv excited to be here. He promised me that he'd learn to sing Bubbles in less than a month! dg"

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