Simone Zaza. File photo: ReutersLondon: West Ham United have signed Italian striker Simone Zaza from Juventus on a season-long loan for an initial fee of five million pounds, the Premier League club said on Sunday.
Zaza scored five Serie A goals in 19 games last season and also struck Juve's winner in their friendly win over West Ham at the London Stadium earlier this month. The 25-year-old was in Italy squad for Euro 2016 and missed a penalty in the shoot-out loss to Germany in the quarterfinals.
A permanent fee of 20 million pounds will be automatically triggered if the striker makes a certain number of Premier League appearances this season, plus a further three million pounds in contingent payments, the east London club said.
"I want to thank everyone for welcoming me... I wanted to start a new experience and I feel this is the right choice for me," Zaza told the club's website (www.whufc.com).
"I have been fortunate enough to have already played at the new stadium with a different shirt. It is a beautiful stadium and I felt the warmth of the fans and this was a big reason why I wanted to join the club."
West Ham failed to make the Europa League group stage for the second year in a row after being eliminated by Astra Giurgiu.
(With agency inputs)
