WELLINGTON PAULISTA
Born: 22 April 1984, Sao Paulo
Former Clubs: Juventus-SP, Mirassol, Parana, Santos, Alaves, Botafogo, Cruzeiro, Palmeiras
Brazilian frontman Wellington Paulista joined West Ham United on 11 January 2013, sealing an initial six-month loan deal from Cruzerio, with an option for an additional three years.
Strong and powerful in the air, Paulista brings him with a fine goalscoring pedigree, having netted 28 times in 40 appearances last year.
This will be his second spell in European football, having once plied his trade in Spain's second tier with Deportivo Alaves.
2012/13
Though still to make his first-team bow, Paulista has made quite an impression in the Development Squad, scoring in each of his first three starts for Nick Haycock's side.
Before West Ham United
Paulista joined Clube Atletico Juventus in his home city as a schoolboy, before gaining first-team experience with Mirassol, Parana and Santos, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances for Pele's former club.
The 6'0 tall forward's goalscoring form at Santos tempted Spanish side Deportivo Alaves to bring him to Europe in 2006, for whom he scored a fine goal in a Copa del Rey tie with Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
Paulista returned to Brazil with Serie A side Botafogo in 2008, netting seven league goals in 28 appearances as the club won the Rio Cup.
The skilful frontman enjoyed his most productive season upon joining Cruzeiro in 2009. He notched an impressive 21 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions as the club finished fourth in Serie A and won the Mineiro State Championship. That haul included five strikes in ten Copa Libertadores ties - South America's equivalent of the UEFA Champions League - as the Brazilians reached the final before being edged out by Argentinean club Estudiantes.
The following year, 2010, Paulista's nine goals in 30 appearances helped Cruzeiro to finish second in Serie A and reach the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals.
After a less productive 2011 campaign, during which he was loaned to Palmeiras, the forward returned to form last year, scoring 28 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions.