West Ham have signed goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from Paris Saint-Germain for £7.75million after impressing on loan at the London Stadium last season.
Areola, 29, has agreed a five-year contract with the Hammers, with a further one-year option after making 18 appearances last term.
Despite failing to dislodge veteran keeper Lukasz Fabianski as the Hammers’ No1, Areola impressed in the cups — helping West Ham to the Europa League semi-finals.
And will now challenge the veteran Fabianski, 37, for the right to be David Moyes’ first-choice keeper at the London Stadium.
And the shot-stopper was delighted to make his stay permanent.
He said: “I feel good, I feel great, I’m happy to sign and happy to stay here permanently and I can’t wait to start to train and to do the job.
“The main thing is that I felt the love of the supporters last season. Something for me that is really important is to feel that I’m loved.
“I know that I have to do my job and to do everything to make them happy, and obviously also the team, my team-mates, the staff and [goalkeeping coach] Xavi Valero as well.
“The vibe of last season was great, so I just wanted to do everything to stay here.”
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Capped three times by France, Areola has spent time away from PSG on loan at Real Madrid, Villarreal, Lens and Bastia.
Yet the goalkeeper now finds a new permanent home at the London Stadium.
