West Ham have completed the permanent signing of midfielder Tomas Soucek for £21million, including the initial loan fee, on a four-year deal from Slavia Prague.
The Czech international joined the Hammers on loan in January and has been a huge hit in east London, scoring three goals in 12 games and playing a huge part in securing Premier League survival for David Moyes’ side.
Moyes brought the 25-year-old to the club on an initial six-month loan deal in January which was extended after the lockdown to encompass the final nine games of the campaign following Project Restart, since when Soucek has made his position in midfield his own alongside Declan Rice and Mark Noble.
The Hammers had an option to purchase Soucek permanently included in the initial loan, which also cost the club £4million, if they secured survival. They did that by earning a point in midweek against Manchester United and the club has moved quickly to tie the midfielder down long term.
The midfielder netted crucial goals against Chelsea, Newcastle and Watford since the resumption of the top flight and has become a big fan favourite for his all-action, box-to-box displays in the middle of the park.
Before lockdown against Manchester City, Soucek covered the most distance of any player in the history of the club in a single game, more than 11km, in defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Hammers manager David Moyes was thrilled to tie up a long-term deal for Soucek, saying: “The best thing is he is a terrific lad. He has got a very good physical capability, scored some really important goals for us, scored against Chelsea, Watford, so he has had some really important goals, he could have had more.
More importantly, when I came in January we needed another midfielder, someone else to help Declan [Rice] and Mark Noble and I have to say Tomas has been a really good fit for them."
Soucek's signing is believed to have come out of West Ham's main transfer budget for this summer, with the transfer window set to open on Monday following the conclusion of the Premier League season.
Funds are expected to be even tighter now in east London with the futures of a number of players up in the air including Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini, Andriy Yarmolenko, Jack Wilshere and Fabian Balbuena all on the chopping block. Football.London understands offers could also be considered for Sebastien Haller if they match the club's valuation of the record signing.
