Javier Hernandez: West Ham's ambitious summer made it an easy decision to join

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James Benge24 July 2017

Javier Hernandez hailed the ambition West Ham have shown in the summer transfer window after he completed his £16million move back to the Premier League.

Former Manchester United striker Hernandez was unveiled as a West Ham player on Monday, becoming the fourth signing of a transfer window that has seen the club fulfil Slaven Bilic’s wishes for experienced Premier League talent.

Hernandez scored 59 goals for Manchester United between 2010 and 2015 before departing for Bayer Leverkusen where he averaged better than a goal every other game. He will now be tasked with firing West Ham back into the top flight after a disappointing debut season at the London Stadium.

The 29-year-old, who has signed a three year contract, joins record signing Marco Arnautovic and former Manchester City team-mates Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart, the latter of whom has arrived on loan, as West Ham’s summer recruits and Hernandez declared himself impressed with West Ham’s recruitment drive.

“I am very happy to join West Ham United,” he told the West Ham website. “For me, the Premier League is the best league in the world and when the opportunity came, I was desperate to sign for this club.

“It was not a difficult decision. West Ham is an historic club, and very ambitious – this summer you can see with the players signed that they are looking to have a very good season.

“I’ve had three fantastic years playing in Spain [on loan at Real Madrid] and Germany, but England was really the first big chapter in my career and I am so happy to be back.

“I am desperate for the season to start and to help the team achieve all their objectives.”

Chicarito, as Hernandez is also known, becomes the 33rd striker West Ham have signed since David Gold and David Sullivan took over the club in January 2010.

But the latter is convinced Hernandez will prove to be one of the club’s more astute signings.

“Following the arrivals of Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart and Marko Arnautovic, he is another top class professional who brings great experience and quality to the club,” Sullivan said of Hernandez.

“He has a proven goalscoring record in the Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga, as well in the UEFA Champions League and at international level with Mexico.

“We now have some fantastic options in attacking positions and, like all West Ham fans, I am looking forward to seeing Javier score goals in a claret and blue shirt next season.”

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