El Hadji Malick Diouf has lifted the lid on the key influence behind his move to West Ham — and it turns out a former Hammers favourite helped him make up his mind.
The defender’s admission will have Hammers fans buzzing with a new-found respect for their new star and one of their old ones too.
West Ham have officially confirmed the signing of defender El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague.
It may have taken six weeks of the extended summer transfer window, but Graham Potter has finally broken his West Ham transfer duck.
Fans were starting to get agitated at West Ham’s lack of transfer activity.
Hammers supporters were turning the heat up on the club’s owners – especially after they sold Mohammed Kudus to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Diouf ends West Ham’s long wait for a signing
The money from Spurs has helped West Ham complete the signing of Diouf, though, for £19.5m with up to £3m in add-ons.
West Ham had to agree to an abnormally high sell-on clause for Diouf in order to get the deal over the line.
But that just shows how much Slavia rate the 20-year-old Senegal ace.
While Kudus trolled the Hammers by saying he ‘only wanted Spurs’ on moving to north London, Diouf has declared he ‘only wanted West Ham’.
A number of clubs were chasing the left-back-cum-wingback, including the likes of Atalanta and Leeds.
It was claimed former Slavia hero Tomas Soucek played a big part in initial talks between his current and old club over Diouf.
A close friend of the Hammers midfielder even labelled him ‘agent Soucek’ for the part he played.
Now Diouf has lifted the lid on the ex-West Ham star who helped seal his ‘dream’ move after a home visit.
Diouf is already a star for his national team at the tender age of 20.
Diouf lifts lid on ex-West Ham star who helped seal move
He shone in Senegal’s 3-1 win over England last month.
Diouf joins a great lineage of Senegalese players to have worn the famous claret and blue of the Hammers.
Henri Camara, Demba Ba, Papa Bouba Diop, Mohamed Diamé, Cheikhou Kouyaté and Diafra Sakho came before the Hammers new boy.
Kouyate, with 147 appearances over four years, was undoubtedly the best and most successful of all the Senegalese stars to have represented West Ham.
And he’s still helping his former club, seven years after leaving the London Stadium.
Because Diouf says he went to Kouyate’s house to speak to him about the move to West Ham.
Diouf had already thought West Ham looked the best fit for his next step.
But Kouyate’s ringing endorsement made the young star’s mind up for him.
Despite also playing for Palace and Forest in the Premier League, Kouyate told Diouf to join the Hammers.
Hammers new boy paid Kouyate a home visit to discuss move
“I know also about Cheikhou Kouyaté as he was here and I was talking with him before,” Diouf told West Ham’s website.
“I was at his home to talk about the club and the structure here and he told me a lot about West Ham and I confirmed my choice to be here.
“He’s still the captain. He’s not there playing, but when we have the (national team) games, he’s in the dressing room to talk with everyone, to push with us. I think he’s a good person.
“It’s my decision. I think about my future first and I think I will not regret to take this decision.”
West Ham have fond memories of Kouyate, who was an excellent player for the club over his four-year spell.
Now there is another reason to love the man who was famously caught on camera singing ‘We’ve got Payet’ at West Ham’s end of season awards following the unforgettable Farewell Boleyn campaign.
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