West Ham announce the signing of attacker Nikola Vlasic from CSKA Moscow with Croatia international joining on a five-year contract to return to the Premier League after spell at Everton
- Nikola Vlasic has joined West Ham from CSKA Moscow on a five-year contract
- Croatia international Vlasic is said to have cost £26.8m with £7.7m in add-ons
- David Moyes is an admirer and viewed him as an alternative to Jesse Lingard
- Vlasic spent two years at Everton between 2017 and 2019 before his Russia move
West Ham have announced the deadline day signing of forward Nikola Vlasic from CSKA Moscow in a deal that could rise to as much as £35million.
Vlasic, an experienced international for Croatia, has put pen to paper on a five-year deal after talks reached an advanced stage over the weekend.
It is thought a £25.7m fee has been agreed with a further £7.7m in add-ons, and David Moyes believes Vlasic can rotate across his frontline this season.
West Ham have announced the signing of Nikola Vlasic on a five-year deal from CSKA Moscow
‘West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of Croatia international attacker Nikola Vlasic,’ a club statement said.
‘The talented 23-year-old arrives on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Russian Premier League club CSKA Moscow.
‘A teenage prodigy with Hajduk Split, Vlasic has already played more 250 senior matches, scored 33 goals and assisted 21 more for CSKA over the previous three seasons, and was named Russian Premier League Footballer of the Year in 2020.
The fee is believed to be worth £21m and West Ham say Vlasic has been ‘scouted’ extensively
‘A regular for Croatia, he has 26 senior caps and featured four times at the recent UEFA Euro 2020 finals, and will now continue his career at London Stadium after representing his country during the current international break.’
Vlasic has also been ‘extensively scouted’, West Ham add, and his quality and experience has been labelled as ‘top-class’.
Boss Moyes has long admired the 23-year-old and viewed him as an alternative to Jesse Lingard, who is now expected to stay at Manchester United.
Sportsmail reported last week that Vlasic, formerly of Everton, was identified as West Ham’s first-choice attacking target after a return for Lingard hit the buffers.
Vlasic (right) was named the Russian Premier League Footballer of the Year in 2020 with CSKA
He spent two years at Goodison Park between 2017 and 2019 but failed to make a first-team impact.
Vlasic initially arrived from Hadjuk Split, but was loaned out by Everton to CSKA Moscow for the 2018-19 season, before the deal was made permanent.
At Euro 2020, he played four times and scored against Scotland before Croatia’s last-16 knockout.
Last season, he scored 12 goals and picked up six assists in all competitions for CSKA – and is viewed as being better value for money than Lingard.