West Ham United completed their first - and last - permanent signing of the January transfer window with just hours to spare.
Jordan Hugill's arrival - from Championship side Preston North End in a deal reported to be worth around £10million plus add-ons - was a surprise move from the club on the final day of the month-long window.However the English forward, who was playing amateur football throughout his teenage years is determined to impress a fan base that could perhaps have been forgiven for expecting a more well-known name to replace experienced internationals Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew, both of whom left West Ham this week.
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"it's s new challenge for me; hopefully I can bring what I did at Preston here and show what I can do," he told whufc.com. "We got on the train at lunchtime and it's all been a blur!
"It's amazing to know I'm a Premier League footballer, where I've come from in the last five years to where I am now is amazing. I'm still pinching myself to see if it's all real, but hopefully I can bring my qualities from Preston here to West Ham.
"Without doubt, it's a huge opportunity and I'm looking forward to it."
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Despite being viewed by many supporters as a last-minute 'panic signing' given the club's inability to secure any alternative targets, Hugill arrives with a solid pedigree and positive reports from fans of The Lilywhites.
Having worked his way through the game via the local North East leagues, the 25-year-old striker - who has been likened by some to former Hammer Dean Ashton - landed his first pro contract with Port Vale in 2013 at the relatively late age of 21.
Upon scored his first goal for the club, Vale manager Micky Adams said the he'd "unearthed a gem" in Hugill, describing him as "one of those lads who never gives up". Those talents were soon noted by bigger clubs and the Middlesbrough-born goalscorer joined Preston a year later.
"Wherever I have been in life, not just in football, but in whatever I do, I give everything," added Hugill. "I'm going to give absolutely everything for this club and for my teammates. It's a new challenge for me, playing in the Premier League, but they are going to get nothing less than 100 per cent.
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"I know a lot about West Ham and its history. The one thing that has struck me about watching West Ham over the years is the fan base that we've got. It's amazing how good the fans are here, so I'm looking forward to walking out and hearing Bubbles!"
Hugill, who will wear the vacant number 12 shirt has signed a four-and-a-half year contract.
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