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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.
The former Fulham loanee joined the Hammers on a season-long loan deal with the option to make the switch permanent.
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.
Areola will now challenge Fabianski, 37, for the right to be David Moyes’ first-choice keeper at the London Stadium.
And the shot-stopper was delighted to extend his stay in East London.
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 teammates, the staff and Xavi Valero as well.
“The vibe of last season was great, so I just wanted to do everything to stay here.”
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.
