West Ham have completed the club-record signing of Felipe Anderson from Lazio – and the midfielder says he aims to emulate Hammers legends like Bobby Moore, Carlos Tevez and Paolo Di Danio.
The club have announced the Brazilian has signed a four-year deal at the London Stadium.
The actual fee has not been disclosed but reports suggest it could be around £35million, potentially rising to £42million.
Anderson, 25, has spent the past five seasons in Serie A and becomes the Hammers’ seventh signing since the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as manager this summer.
Anderson told the club’s website: “I feel really happy and fulfilled to join West Ham United. West Ham is a club with a lot of tradition, lots of great players have played here, like Bobby Moore, Carlos Tevez and Di Canio.
“They were great players and idols here, and I’m aiming big, who knows, maybe I could hit their heights and be a legend here too. I’m really happy to be here. It’s a dream come true.”
Brazil international Anderson joined Lazio in 2013 after making his name with Sao Paolo side Santos as a teenager. The attacking midfielder scored 34 goals in 177 appearances for the Rome club.
His arrival follows those of Ryan Fredericks, Lukasz Fabianski, Issa Diop, Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko and Fabian Balbuena this summer.
Joint-chairman David Sullivan said: “Felipe was a main target of the manager so we are delighted we’ve been able to bring him to the club.
“We’re very pleased with the business we’ve done so far and I hope the supporters are just as excited as we are about the squad we are building here at West Ham.
“The deal sees us significantly break our transfer record and we feel it’s a real statement of intent.”