Report: Sofiane Feghouli snubs Benfica to join West Ham on a free transfer
Jack Sullivan, the son of West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan, has taken to Twitter to confirm that Sofiane Feghouli will be joining the Hammers on a three-year deal. This represents a massive coup for the London club, as reports suggest that Feghouli snubbed an offer from Portuguese side Benfica after a conversation with manager Slaven Bilic.
Feghouli is a pacy right-winger, known for his mazy dribbling skills and strong work ethic. Often the most hard-working member of the team, the Algerian international has racked up 29 goals and 27 assists during his time with Valencia.
Feghouli has signed for West Ham for the next 3 years!!!
— Jack Sullivan (@jsullivanwhu) June 14, 2016
West Ham have already snapped up Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Havard Nordveit on a free transfer, and coupled with the move for Feghouli, they have added further depth and quality to the squad.
Last year the Hammers had a stellar first half of the season under Bilic before losing their way a little, and finally finished in seventh place. With a healthy start to their transfer business, they will be looking to build a team that could possibly challenge for a Champions League place, even as they move to a new home at the Olympic Stadium.
This move is also a testament to the respect that Feghouli holds for Bilic, as he reportedly turned down an offer for regular Champions League football with Benfica. He is reportedly very keen to work with the Croat manager, and that can only come as good news for the Hammers supporters.