- Martin Samuelsen has joined Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan
- The winger signed a new four-year deal with the Hammers this week
- He joins West Ham teammate Stephen Hendrie in Lancashire
West Ham United winger Martin Samuelsen has joined Sky Bet Championship side Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan.
The 19-year-old, who this week signed a new four-year contract with the Club, will link up with fellow Hammer Stephen Hendrie, who is also on loan at Ewood Park, for the 2016/17 campaign.
Having joined the east Londoners in June 2015, Samuelsen made his first team debut within a month, playing in both legs of the side’s UEFA Europa League second qualifying round tie against Maltese outfit Birkirkara.
Last Novemeber, after impressing for the Hammers’ Development Squad, Samuelsen joined League One side Peterborough United, and went on to make 20 appearances for Posh in league and cup.
He scored once for Peterborough; his side’s third in a 3-2 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Earlier this summer, Samuelsen made his first senior international appearance for Norway, turning out in the nation’s 3-2 friendly victory over Iceland.
Blackburn are looking to bolster their squad after enduring a difficult start to the campaign under new boss Owen Coyle, and Samuelsen will hope to make an instant impact in Lancashire.
The club have strong traditions of signing Norwegian players, and Lars Bohinen, Henning Berg, Martin Andresen, Stig Inge Bjornebye, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Egil Ostenstad and, more recently, Joshua King have all gone before their newest recruit.
West Ham will have the option to recall Samuelsen – who is eligible to play in the EFL Cup for Rovers – in January if they wish to do so.