Tuesday 1 September 2015 22:00, UK
West Ham have completed the signing of Michail Antonio from Nottingham Forest on a four-year contract.
The 25-year-old had earlier travelled to London to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms ahead of a deadline day move to Upton Park.
Talks between the clubs on Tuesday initially broke down and sources close to the player were not confident a deal could be struck ahead of the 6pm transfer deadline.
But following further discussions, West Ham successfully agreed an undisclosed fee - reported to be in the region of £7m - with Forest for Antonio, who previously attracted bids from Derby County and West Bromwich Albion and now a deal has been finalised.
"I'm buzzing and finally happy to be back in London at a massive club," Antonio told West Ham TV. "I've always been around London and I came to a couple of games here when I was younger, so I'm happy to be finally here and at a club I watched when I was younger.
"I've worked my way from non-league and finally got to the Premier League to show what I can do, and if the fans don't know me from the Championship, what I bring to the table is pace, power and goals, so hopefully I can do that this season.
"I can't wait for the challenge of playing in the Premier League. It was one of the things growing up, where I wanted to be, testing myself against the best competition and, seeing West Ham's result of winning 3-0 at Anfield, it shows I'm coming to a great team that's established in the Premier League.
"Hopefully I can put my mark down here at the club."
Antonio scored 15 goals for Forest last season and continued interest in him led to manager Dougie Freedman withdrawing him from the squad which played Charlton on August 18.
Freedman claimed the winger was not in the right frame of mind to play but he consequently returned against Bolton four days later and scored against Cardiff on Saturday.
Antonio becomes West Ham's fourth deadline day arrival following the signings of Victor Moses, Alex Song – both on season-long loans – and Nikica Jelavic.
