West Ham United have, as expected, completed the signing of Sampdoria midfielder Pedro Obiang on a four-year deal for a fee believed to be in the region of £5 million.

The Hammers have been promising a 'big' new arrival all week and following the appointment of Slaven Bilic as Sam Allardyce's successor.

Speaking to the club's website, the 23-year-old said: “I’m very happy to have signed.

"We have been talking about this for a long time and now I’ve finally got the chance to come here.

“I went on holiday after the season had finished and I was looking forward to receiving that call to tell me where and when to sign for this club.

“I’m very excited to play in the Premier League. It’s a style of football that will help me to progress as a player and as a person, so it will be very good." 

He continued: “I think Bilic is a manager that can do very well here. I know that he was a West Ham player and he did a very well with the Croatian national team.

"He is a manager that likes to play good football and I really like that so I am sure that we will get along very well."

Obiang played 36 times for Serie A side Sampdoria last term, scoring three goals in the process. He has been with il Blucerchiati (the Blue Ringed) since moving from Spanish side Atletico Madrid in 2008.

After two years in Samp's youth setup, the Alcalá de Henares-born midfielder progressed into the senior side and made his league debut against Juventus in September 2009.

The 2011/12 campaign proved to be Obiang's breakthrough at Stadio Luigi Ferraris as he made 33 appearances in Serie A.

A box-to-box midfielder, Obiang looks set to be a natural replacement for Alex Song, who is unlikely to return from Barcelona after last season’s season-long loan stay.

He has also represented his country at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level.