West Ham confirm Fabian Balbuena deal as Hammers' transfer spree continues

West Ham have signed defender Fabian Balbuena from Corinthians in a deal worth £3.5 million.

The Paraguay international, who has never played domestic football in Europe, has signed a three-year contract.

Balbeuna is West Ham's sixth summer signing with Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson still to confirm a club-record move to London Stadium.

"I'm really excited for this new challenge and my target is to meet the demands of the Premier League," Balbuena told the club's official website.

"Obviously to be at West Ham is an extra motivation, and I want to do my best to help the team."

Balbuena's arrival is the latest in a string of new signings made by Manuel Pellegrini after Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop, Lukasz Fabianksi, Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmolenko.

West Ham's new director of football, Mario Husillos, added: "We welcome Fabian to West Ham United. He is somebody we have monitored for a long time and we are very pleased to have taken the opportunity to sign him.

"He is a player of great strength, character and personality. To be captain of Corinthians, one of the biggest clubs in South America, requires a very strong mentality, and he also has international experience with Paraguay.

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"He has won many individual honours and was often named one of the best central defenders in Brazil for his statistics.

“We believe he will improve our squad and our defensive qualities. He is the perfect age – a player for the present and the future – and he can be a very important player for many years at West Ham."

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