Done Deal: Ex-Chelsea Nigerian Whizkid Joins West Ham United

Premier League club West Ham confirmed via their official website on Thursday that they were able to complete a deal for promising Nigerian striker Oladapo Afolayan before the close of the transfer window.

Afolayan joins the Hammers from National League club Solihull Moors and has penned a three-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him at the London club until June 30, 2021.

The 20-year-old played on the same Chelsea team as Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke.

Speaking on the deal, Afolayan said : ''I started out with Chelsea and was there until I was 15, then my family moved to Canada and I was part of the Academy at Toronto FC.

''Then, when we moved back, I studied civil engineering at Loughborough University before the opportunity arose to join Solihull and play in the National League and it was something I couldn’t turn down.

''Now, the opportunity has come to join a Premier League club and West Ham is one which has always given youngsters opportunities to come through, as we have seen this season, so I’ve come here to get into the first team and make a name for myself.''

Oladapo Afolayan will join Tunji Akinola and Ajibola Alese in West Ham's U23 squad.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : whufc.com