Football Transfer News: West Ham signs Swansea City's Andre Ayew for club record £20.5M

By Raymund Tamayo / Aug 09, 2016 02:43 AM EDT
(Photo : Getty Images) West Ham signed Andre Ayew from Swansea City for a club record transfer fee of £20.5 million on Monday.

West Ham United FC had reportedly signed striker Andre Ayew from fellow English Premier League club Swansea City FC for a club record transfer fee of £20.5 million on Monday, according to latest reports.

The 26-year-old Ghana international had been with Swansea City for only a season prior to his move to the Hammers, appearing in 34 domestic first-division games last term and scoring 12 goals for the Swans.

He played for Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille in the previous five seasons, scoring 60 times in 202 games in all competitions.

"I am very proud and happy to be at this magnificent Club. I am happy to be playing for these fans and I hope to make the people very happy here," said Ayew in a statement at his new club's website, as per ESPN.

Ayew went on to acknowledge West Ham's drive to improve and its manager, Slaven Bilić, who had said to be looking for another striker to add to his offensive options heading into the opening of the new season this week.

"They want to become a bigger club every year and with the new Stadium and a new training ground, you can feel they are moving onto another level and I want to be part of this project," Ayew said.

"I want to train hard, do my job and show that I deserve to play for West Ham United. I want to give back to the manager and the fans the confidence they are showing me," he added.

There had been rumors that Ayew's Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan, who is currently playing in the Chinese Super League with Shanghai SIPG FC, is also being targeted by Bilić. If those rumors are true, then he is set to have a compatriot with his new squad.

Swansea was able to let Ayew go after the team acquired veteran goalscorer Fernando Llorente from La Liga club Sevilla as they also target Atletico Madrid's Borja Baston before the summer window closes at the end of the month, according to SkySports.

Ayew is West Ham's fifth signing this summer as the club will feature in a new home field this coming season, the London Stadium. The Hammers had played home matches at the Boleyn Ground, also called Upton Park, since 1904 until the recent change.