West Ham complete signing of Niclas Fullkrug

West Ham United have announced the signing of Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund on a four-year contract.

The Hammers are believed to have shelled out around £27m in order to sign the 31-year-old, putting an end to their search for a new star striker.

The likes of Atletico Madrid and AC Milan were linked with Fullkrug, but he has instead joined West Ham.

"I'm delighted to be here, and I can’t wait to get out on the pitch with my new teammates," Fullkrug said to club channels. "I think the Premier League is the best league in the world, and for me it is the right time to move over to England and play for a big Club like West Ham.

"I have been thinking about West Ham for a long time now - I know the Technical Director Tim Steidten very well, because we have history at Werder Bremen together, and I have watched some games and seen how much quality there is in the team.

"The chance to play under the Head Coach [Julen Lopetegui] is also really exciting. His playing style is important for me, and I am confident that under him I will be able to perform at my best, and score lots of goals.

"I love being close to supporters, and I'm really looking forward to meeting the West Ham fans. I have a very good feeling at the moment - I'm strong, fit and in shape - and I just want to get out there and start playing for them."

Fullkrug has bloomed relatively late in his career, announcing himself as one of the Bundesliga's top strikers only in recent years.

After finishing as the division's top scorer with 16 goals for Werder Bremen during the 2022/23 campaign, he joined Dortmund for £12.8m and went on to play a starring role in their run to the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final. During Fullkrug's sole season at Dortmund, he registered 16 goals and 10 assists in 46 games across all competitions.

Fullkrug, nicknamed 'Lucke' for the gap in his teeth, has also broken into the Germany national team setup, scoring 13 goals in just 21 appearances. He was one of the stars of their Euro 2024 campaign as the hosts fell to eventual winners Spain at the quarter-final stage.

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