London (AFP) – Highly-regarded Argentine striker Jonathan Calleri joined ambitious English Premier League side West Ham on a season-long loan from Uruguayan outfit Deportivo Maldonado on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old, who played for his country at the Rio Olympics, could make his debut for the Hammers in their Europa League play-off first leg clash with Astra Giurgiu in Romania on Thursday.
Calleri scored 39 goals in 90 appearances over the past two campaigns with Argentine giants Boca Juniors and then Brazilian side Sao Paulo and said he was looking forward to the challenge of playing in England.
“This represents a fantastic new challenge for me and I am really looking forward to it,” Calleri told his new club’s website.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world and so I am delighted to have this opportunity to play in such a prestigious league.
“It is a new chapter for me and so I am excited to get started here and to fit in as quickly as possible.
“These are exciting times for me personally and I am motivated to adapt my game to this new environment.”
Even if Calleri doesn’t get a run out against Astra on Thursday, his Premier League debut is likely to come on Sunday when the Hammers, who lost their opening game 2-1 to Chelsea on Monday, host Bournemouth.
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