Hammers land Daprela

West Ham have announced the signing of Swiss starlet Fabio Daprela for an undisclosed fee.

Swiss defender completes Premier League switch

West Ham have announced the signing of Swiss starlet Fabio Daprela for an undisclosed fee. The teenage defender arrives from Grasshopper Club Zurich and has penned a five-year contract. Daprela has recently been competing in the European U19 Championships and flew into England direct from that tournament to complete the deal. A number of top Italian sides were reported to be tracking his progress, but it is the Hammers who have secured his signature. "I am very happy to come here as it is a great club," Daprela told West Ham's official website. "I saw the team play on television last season and it is a very good team. They have a great manager and it is good to be here. "I want to play for the first-team in the Premier League. I think I can learn a lot from the manager and people like Matthew Upson and Mark Noble. "I am really looking forward to the season starting."