
Gianfranco Zola has his first summer signing with Luis Jimenez joining from Italian champions Inter
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of Chile forward Luis Jimenez from Serie A champions Internazionale on a season-long loan with a view to a possible permanent transfer.
With fierce competition for Jimenez's services at home and abroad, West Ham moved quickly to seal the deal with the player, who will have a medical when he arrives in England next month, joining officially from 1 July. The 25-year-old is nicknamed 'El Mago' - The Wizard - for his playmaking abilities and is a former team-mate of Valon Behrami at SS Lazio.
Speaking to whufc.com, Jimenez said: "I am very happy, very excited and very determined to show what I can do. I am a player who loves to play football, to be in a team that keeps the ball, to create opportunities and also score goals. I can't promise anything but I am going to do everything possible to do a good job for the club.
"I know West Ham are a fantastic club who have had a lot of great players. I had options to join other clubs but I watched West Ham's last game of the season and I liked it a lot. I preferred this option because I really admire the way they try to play. Gianfranco Zola was one of the things that drew me to West Ham - I can identify with the type of football he wants to play."
whufc.com