WEST HAM have completed the signing of Tomas Soucek after his goals helped ensure Premier League survival this season.
Czech international Soucek has made a huge impact at the London Stadium since arriving on loan in January – and his three goals since the resumption of the season played a major role in ensuring the Hammers avoided the drop.
Staying in the Premier League activated the clause which had seen West Ham agree to pay Slavia Prague £19.14million to make the deal permanent if their top flight status was secured.
Soucek, 25, has signed a contract until 2024 and boss David Moyes believes he can continue to make an impression in England now his permanent signing has been confirmed.
LADBROKES 1-2-FREE
Moyes said: “I always believed he would be staying, it was subject to us staying in the Premier League and I believed we would remain a Premier League club. I never had any great worries about him.
“The biggest concern was how he would start and fit in with the Premier League quickly, all the other things connected to him are good.
“He can score, he can run, he’s a good footballer, so I think it was more to see how he would fit in.
Most read in Football
“I was always confident that he would remain with us so I am pleased to get that out of the way, we are glad he will be a West Ham player for a good period to come.
“The best thing is he is a terrific lad. He has got a very good physical capability, scored some really important goals for us, scored against Chelsea, Watford, so he has had some really important goals, he could have had more.
“More importantly, when I came in January we needed another midfielder, someone else to help Declan Rice and Mark Noble and I have to say Tomas has been a really good fit for them.”