West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of Mexico FIFA World Cup star Pablo Barrera.
The winger, who turned 23 on 21 June, has moved to the Boleyn Ground from Mexican Premier Division side Club Universidad Nacional (Pumas de la UNAM) on a four-year contract with a one-year option for fee of £4m.
Following the arrival of Barrera, the club hopes to announce two further signings within the next few hours. Details will be exclusively announced first on whufc.com
Barrrera, who becomes the second new recruit this summer after Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, was able to complete his move after passing a medical and having his work permit application accepted by the Home Office on Thursday. He put pen to paper on Friday morning before giving his first interview as a Hammers player to whufc.com
"I am very happy to sign for West Ham United and have been really taken by the reception I have received from the players and the manager," he said. "I have had a great welcome.
"I knew about West Ham when I was in Mexico. They are a big club and I have heard about the great players they have had in the past. I have heard a lot more about the club and its traditions since I have been in London and I am very excited to be here."
A fearless player blessed with great pace and elusive skills, Barrera is planning to get the fans on their feet.
"I am very excited about the opportunity and the possibilities of playing for West Ham. I will do my best. The fans can expect that I will give 100 per cent to succeed for the team and to play better than I have ever played before.
"I am very fast and can use both feet. I like the one-on-one situations and to take on my opponent and beat my rivals. I like to excite the supporters. People have said that I am the sort of player that the fans want to have the ball as often as possible because I can make things happen."
Barrera expressed his excitement at playing in the Premier League and said he has joined West Ham to succeed and to win trophies.
"For sure, I think it is possible for us to win trophies. I want to do my best and to succeed at this club. It would be great to win some trophies here. I am very excited about the possibilities with West Ham and excited about working with the new manager and the team. My goal is to win my place in the team with my skills, to show the fans that I will do my best for West Ham and to win a title with West Ham."
Considered to be one of the brightest young prospects in world football, Barrera appeared three times for his country at the recent World Cup in South Africa. Before that he turned in an eye-catching 37-minute cameo off the bench as Mexico lost 3-1 to England at Wembley in May.
Blessed with great pace, two good feet, the ability to beat his marker with ease and an eye for goal, the Tlalnepantla-born player is nicknamed 'Dynamite' in his homeland.
Domestically, Barrera spent 12 years with Pumas, making his debut in a 3-1 defeat by Tigres on 19 November 2005. His first league goal would come in the 2007 Apertura (Opening) championship against Monarcas Morelia.
In July of the same year, Barrera scored twice as Mexico reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada.
A senior debut would follow a short time later, with 'Dynamite' exploding on to the international scene in a 3-2 friendly defeat by Guatemala in Los Angeles on 17 October 2007.
The lightning-quick wideman's progress was only slowed by a knee ligament injury suffered during a pre-season fixture with Atlante in the summer of 2008.
However, Barrera quickly returned to full fitness and was able to make 20 Clausura (Closing) championship appearances in the first half of 2009, scoring the extra-time goal that secured the title for Pumas with a 3-2 aggregate win over Pachuca.
The 2009 Apertura and 2010 Bicentenario - a special championship held to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mexico's independence - saw Barrera continue his fine form, with the youngster netting eleven goals and tallying five assists in 28 appearances.
At international level, he helped Mexico to lift the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States before playing his part in El Tri's qualification for the 2010 World Cup.
After scoring in the 5-0 warm-up win over Bolivia in February 2010, Barrera appeared in three matches in South Africa, being introduced as a substitute in the Group A meetings with France and Uruguay and second round defeat by Argentina.
He has already seen his new team-mates in action, as he travelled to watch the 2-1 win at Peterborough United on Wednesday night.