West Ham have completed the signing of Senegal midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate.
Kouyate, 24, has been signed from the Belgian champions Anderlecht on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee and becomes the club's second summer addition following the move for Argentine striker Mauro Zarate.
"West Ham have given me the chance to play in the Premier League, so I am very happy to join such a club and that gives me great pleasure," Kouyate said to West Ham TV.
Kouyate played for Senegal at the London 2012 Olympics, coming on as a substitute against Great Britain at Old Trafford.
The midfielder is relishing the opportunity to tackle the Premier League.
"I know a few players who were also at the club, [Carlos] Tevez, Demba [Ba], Andy Carroll, who was obviously here last season. West Ham are a team who are known and who are going to help me to progress," he said.
"For my part, I am going to try to do great things here and try to improve further still as a player.
"That I am here now is thanks to the manager, because he went out of his way, leaving his holiday for me, so he has done everything he could for me to join the club.
"He, my advisers and agents helped me make the right decision and said West Ham was the ideal club for me, because as a kid I dreamed of playing in the Premier League and now it is here that my dream has been realised."
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan is confident Kouyate is the type of signing needed to kick the team on next season.
"He comes with vast experience at the top level - including the Champions League - despite being only 24 and I am sure he will add valuable competition to places," Sullivan added.
"We are determined to have a better season this year and this signing is a statement of the direction the club is heading in.
"We hope to have at least four more signings in place by the time we kick-off against Tottenham on 16 August as we aim for at least a top-10 finish this season."
