West Ham have announced the £34million capture of Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.
The signing means their summer spend under new manager Julen Lopetegui has exceeded £140m as they dash their shopping trolley around the world.
Mail Sport reported earlier this week that the Hammers had re-entered the race to sign the defender from Nice amid competition from Juventus.
The 24-year-old played a key role in Nice securing Europa League football with a fifth-placed finish in Ligue 1 last season and made 33 appearances in all competitions.
In a sleek video produced by West Ham, a smiling Todibo kisses his fist, tugs the badge, and makes a Hammers sign to signal his east London allegiance.
The south of France to east London
Jean-Clair Todibo is a Hammer
pic.twitter.com/EgbZvNoqfU
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 10, 2024
Jean-Clair Todibo has completed his £34million switch to West Ham from French club Nice
He is West Ham’s seventh signing of the summer, with Max Kilman Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug, and Luis Guilherme all joining in paid deals. Wes Foderingham and Guido Rodrigues have joined on free transfers.
‘I am really excited to be signing for West Ham United,’ said Todibo. ‘It is a dream come true to play in the Premier League, the best league in the world.
‘It feels like the right time to be coming to West Ham, in the heart of London, with an amazing, passionate fan-base.’
Having impressed at another of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s teams, Todibo had been strongly linked with a move to Ineos-owned Manchester United this summer before UEFA regulations on multi-club ownership put a stop to the deal.
West Ham technical director Tim Steidten travelled to France in a bid to secure the former Barcelona star’s signature with the club determined to shore up their defence ahead of Kurt Zouma’s imminent departure.
Zouma has courted interest from across the Middle East and has been linked with a move to join UAE Pro League side Shabab Al-Ahli in recent days.
With the club captain set to depart, Julen Lopetegui has set his sights on bolstering his defensive options for the coming campaign.
The agreement is set to see the Frenchman initially join Lopetegui’s side on a season-long loan, with a £34million mandatory purchase agreed for next summer.
Hammers technical director Tim Steiden travelled to France in a bid to conclude the deal
The two-time France international had been linked with a move to Man United this summer
After graduating from the Toulouse academy, the centre-back made his senior debut for the club’s first-team in 2018 before joining Barcelona on a free transfer the following year.
Todibo made just five appearances for the Catalan club and was shipped off on loan to both Schalke and Benfica before joining Nice in 2020.
After initially arriving at Les Aiglons on loan, the move was made permanent in June 2021.
Since then Todibo has established himself as one of Europe’s most promising defenders and was duly rewarded for his performances at the Allianz Riviera with a senior France debut in September.