LONDON – By Omobolaji Oyegunle
West Ham United have concluded the signing of Super Eagles and Eupen striker Henry Onyekuru after convincing the player to snub Arsenal.
Talks are ongoing with his Belgian club over the fee which will be inportantlly linked to the 20-year gaining his work permit.
However, Onyekuru has been convinced by West Ham that a move to the London Stadium would be of a greater benefit to his career and will offer him the platform to play regularly in the Premier League.
He is expected to fly to London tomorrow ahead of a prospective medical if talks continue to progress well.
Onyekuru has been capped just once but the £7million plus fee and his expected wages of £35,000 a week will go towards the totting up procedure which should ensure he gains a work permit as an elite talent.
The striker scored 25 goals last season and made 14 assists from the wing playing for unfashionable Eupen.
Arsenal appeal to pay the Belgian club £6.8 as have Lille, Anderlecht and Club Brugge. Eupen also fielded enquiries from Monaco, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.
Speaking last week, the player himself suggested that he was ready to reject an elite club like Arsenal in favour of more playing time elsewhere.
In an interview with KweseESPN, Onyekuru said: ”The first and most important thing for a player is to get playing time .I’m still young and I still have a long career to pursue but now I need to play.’
