New signing Felipe Anderson aims to become a West Ham legend 'like Moore, Tevez and Di Canio'

Brazilian, 25, has joined the Premier League side on a four-year deal after spending five seasons in Serie A for a reported £40 million (Dh194m) fee

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Europa League Round of 16 First Leg - Lazio vs Dynamo Kiev - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - March 8, 2018   Lazio's Felipe Anderson celebrates scoring their second goal          REUTERS/Max Rossi/File Photo
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West Ham United have announced the club-record signing of midfielder Felipe Anderson from Lazio.

Anderson, 25, a one-time Brazil international, has joined the Premier League side on a four-year deal after spending five seasons in Serie A for a reported £40 million (Dh194m) fee.

He told the club's official website: "West Ham is a club with a lot of tradition, lots of great players have played here, like Bobby Moore, Carlos Tevez and [Paolo] Di Canio.

"They were great players and idols here, and I'm aiming big. Who knows? Maybe I could hit their heights and be a legend here too. I'm really happy to be here. It's a dream come true."

Brazil international Anderson joined Lazio in 2013 after making his name with Sao Paolo side Santos as a teenager. The attacking midfielder scored 34 goals in 177 appearances for the Rome club.

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Anderson is the seventh signing since Manuel Pellegrini took over as manager earlier this summer. He joins a host of new recruits at the Olympic Stadium next season including Paraguay defender Fabian Balbuena,  signed from Corinthians in a deal worth £3.5 million on Saturday which followed hot on the heels of Ukraine winger Andriy Yarmolenko from Borussia Dortmund.

England midfielder Jack Wilshere, like highly-rated defender Ryan Fredericks, joined on free transfers whilst the others to arrive are experienced Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and France Under 21 defender Issa Diop, for whom they paid a record fee reported to be £22 million to French Ligue 1 side Toulouse.

Joint-chairman David Sullivan said: "Felipe was a main target of the manager so we are delighted we've been able to bring him to the club.

"We're very pleased with the business we've done so far and I hope the supporters are just as excited as we are about the squad we are building here at West Ham.

"The deal sees us significantly break our transfer record and we feel it's a real statement of intent."

West Ham, who finished 13th last season, will begin their new Premier League campaign against Liverpool on August 12.