Official: West Ham announce sixth signing

West Ham have confirmed the signing of Paraguay international Fabian Balbuena.

The defender has joined the Irons from Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A side Corinthians for an undisclosed fee, penning a three-year deal.

He told WHUFC.com “I’m really excited for this new challenge and my target is to meet the demands of the Premier League,” the 26-year-old said.  Obviously to be at West Ham is an extra motivation, and I want to do my best to help the team.”

Director of Football Mario Husillos is delighted with Balbuena’s signing and believes the defender will prove to be a worthy addition to the West Ham squad. Husillos told WHUFC.com: “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.

“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.”