Former Hammer Toni Martinez has been impressing at FC Porto with a world-class goal for the Portuguese side.
The Academy striker was released last year by the Hammers joining FC Famalicao on a free transfer.
Martinez has impressed at the Portuguese club, scoring 14 goals in 39 games along with six assists later joining FC Porto on free transfer.
The Spanish frontman was signed by the Hammers in April 2016 from Valencia for a fee believed to be £2.4million. Valencia allowed Martinez to train with his new teammates from April onwards to settle into life in England, rather than wait until the summer for pre-season training.
Martinez hit the ground running when he started competitive matches, scoring on his Premier League 2 debut for the Hammers under-23s and would score seven goals in as many games in his first taste of English football.
A couple of injury setbacks followed but when he played, Martinez scored goals. He ended the season with 12 of them in 11 outings in the league and was instrumental as West Ham were promoted to division one of PL2, netting a brace in the final against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Martinez had a loan spell at Oxford United that season as well, finding the FA Cup to his liking as he netted twice for the U’s in that competition.
Across two seasons with the under-23s, Martinez netted an impressive 23 times in 29 games
Martinez appeared twice for the first team in the FA Cup ties against Shrewsbury Town.
Loan spells followed in his homeland at Valladollid, CD Lugo and Rayo Majadahonda before he was eventually released by the Hammers at the end of his contract in May 2019 having deemed to have failed to make the grade.
Stop that, Toni Martinez 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uK0EZNheNq
— West Ham News (@WHUFC_News) November 21, 2020
I’m guessing it was his disappointing record where he only scored a few goals between the three clubs he played for on loan a couple of years ago is the reason we let him go.