David Sullivan today welcomed has welcomed Cheikhou Kouyate to the Irons after beating off ferocious interest from across Europe.

The £7 million signing is seen as a sign of the Hammers’ huge ambition ahead of a critical new season and the co owner said: . “I am absolutely delighted to have clinched the signing of  after weeks of tough negotiations.

“We beat off the challenge of some huge clubs across Europe for his signature and he comes with vast experience at the top level – including the Champions League – despite being only 24 and I am sure he will add valuable competition to places.”

Meanwhile the player -m who had his heart set on joining us from the outset – declared: “I am very happy, because today West Ham have given me the chance to play in the Premier League.

He told the official site: “I know a few players who were also at the club, [Carlos] Tevez, Demba [Ba], Andy Carroll, who was obviously here last season.

“West Ham are a team who are known and who are going to help me to progress. For my part, I’m going to try to do great things here and try to improve further still as a player.

“That I’m here now is thanks to the manager, because he went out of his way, leaving his holiday for me, so he has done everything he could for me to join the club.

“He, my advisers and agents helped me make the right decision and said West Ham was the ideal club for me, because as a kid I dreamed of playing in the Premier League and now it’s here that my dream has been realised.”