Ecuadorian triker Enner Valencia has been granted the work permit required to complete his £12m move to West Ham United.

Valencia had an agonising 12-day wait for the permit to finalised his career move to the Premier League.

The 25-year-old has joined the Hammers on a five-year deal for a fee believed to be a in region of £12m from Mexican side Pachuca.

"It's exciting to be here in England and London," Valencia told the club's website.

"The Premier League is the top league and I have followed it in Mexico. Obviously, my countryman Antonio Valencia has played here for a long time, so it's a big step for me to come here from Mexico and I hope I can be as successful.”

The striker's arrival timely, as club-record signing Andy Carroll has been ruled out for four months, following surgery on an ankle injury.

After a successful work permit hearing, Valencia joins Carlton Cole, Modibo Maiga and fellow summer recruit Mauro Zarate in the Hammers' strike-force.

Valencia scored all three of Ecuador’s goals at the World Cup and hopes to continue his goalscoring at West Ham.

"The World Cup gives me confidence to come to Europe and I want to advance with this opportunity that West Ham have given to me. For me, scoring against England, one of the big teams in the world, before the World Cup was important. Hopefully I can score again against those defenders.

"I scored many goals as a striker. I'm fast, and I try to continue like that because I know the goals brought me to West Ham," he added.