Jimenez signs for the Hammers

By PHIL RAVITZ

WEST Ham have made their first capture of the summer when they completed the season-long loan of Inter Milan forward Luis Jimenez.

Jimenez has long been a target for Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola, as the club moved quickly to hold off interest from other clubs for a player who will officially join the Hammers on July 1, provided he successfully passes a medical.

The 25-year-old Chilean is nicknamed ' El Mago' - the Wizard, for his tight ball-playing skills and abilities as a play-maker.

He said upon agreeing the loan move: "I am very happy and very excited with the prospect of joining West Ham. I will do everything possible to make sure the club are successful.

"I know West Ham to be a famous and fantastic club, who have a lot of great players."

"I had options to join other clubs, but I watched West Ham's last game of the season and I liked what I saw.

"I am a player who likes to play good football and they are a team who play that way."

"Gianfranco Zola is the man who first drew me to the club. I can identify with the type of football he likes to play and I will love playing for him."

Jimenez hasn't played for his country since early 2008, but Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury managed to ensure that the Chilean's application for a work permit meets Football Association criteria, earlier this month.

Duxbury and Hammers' technical director Gianluca Nani, a long time admirer of the player, flew to Milan to successfully complete negotiations on Tuesday.

Scott Duxbury said: "A number of clubs were after Luis, so we had to work quickly to get the deal done.

He continued: "We are pleased to secure Luis' services for the new season. Gianfranco sees him as a player that can add much to our attack in the new campaign and we are very happy to have him join us.