West Ham have accomplished the signing of Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The left-back makes the transfer to London Stadium having helped Slavia Prague win the Czech title in 2024-25 after becoming a member of them from Norwegian aspect Tromso in January 2024.
Diouf, 20, has joined the Hammers on a long-term deal, turning into their first signing of the switch window as head coach Graham Potter appears to enhance on their 14th-placed end final season, with 2025-26 set to mark his first full marketing campaign in cost.
He’s set to affix West Ham’s pre-season coaching camp in Germany this week.
“I’m actually joyful to be right here and to make a development for my profession. I’m trying ahead to working onerous and becoming a member of my new team-mates,” Diouf informed West Ham’s official web site.
“There have been loads of groups [who wanted to sign me], however I selected West Ham United first and I spoke with the coach [Graham Potter] and it was plan for me.
“Everybody desires to return right here to play within the Premier League. I feel it’s a dream for everybody. When they’re right here, they need to make every little thing good. I feel in addition they have the persona to play right here and if you’re younger, you need to proceed your development.
“In case you are younger, you must maintain your persona. It’s in regards to the workforce. An important factor is the workforce, not the participant. I need to say to the West Ham supporters I’m very joyful to be right here with them. I feel we’ll make an excellent season this yr.”
Potter added: “We’re very happy to welcome El Hadji Malick to West Ham United.
““He’s a younger participant we now have been looking forward to a while, and any individual that we consider generally is a actually good match for what we are attempting to construct on the Membership.
“He has proven super power of character and maturity at such a younger age – leaving his house in Senegal to maneuver to Norway at 18, after which transferring on to Prague – and his performances have been at a constantly excessive degree for a while now.
“He has made some terrific progress to date together with his golf equipment and with the Senegal nationwide workforce, and we’re trying ahead to welcoming him into the squad and dealing with him to proceed that progress.
“The Premier League will likely be an enormous problem for El Hadji Malick, however I can inform that he’s actually excited by it and decided to make affect on the Membership and on our supporters. He’s younger, hungry and impressive, and I feel he will likely be a really constructive addition to the group.”
