Leeds United's Sam Byram completes West Ham switch

Sam Byram signs for West Ham United. (Picture; West Ham United FC)

The 22-year-old signed a four-and-a-half year deal at Upton Park today, bringing an end to his promising career at Elland Road.

Byram had been the subject of an intense fight between Everton and West Ham and the London club secured his signature after stepping into rival Everton’s £3.7m bid.

Sam Byram has left Leeds United. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

Several sources have indicated that West Ham will effectively match that fee but United owner Massimo Cellino insisted on Monday night that the Hammers’ offer was “much lower” than Everton’s.

The Italian said he had been forced to accept it due to Byram’s insistence on moving to Upton Park.

The right-back passed a medical yesterday and put pen to paper early this afternoon.

West Ham were believed to have initially suggested the option of loaning Byram back to Leeds for the rest of the Championship season but United insisted on a straight cash deal.

Byram, who broke through from Leeds’ academy in 2012 and won the club’s player of the year award in his first season as a professional, played 143 times for United and scored 10 goals.

A statement from Leeds read: “Sam leaves with the club’s best wishes and appreciation of his efforts during his time at Leeds United.”

Byram told West Ham’s official website: “I’m unbelievably proud and happy to join a club as big as this. I’m just looking forward to what the future holds and hopefully I can achieve things with the team going forward.

“It’s a childhood dream of mine to play in the Premier League so to have the chance to get into a team like this and I just want to get my head down, work hard and hopefully get a chance.

“I spoke to the manager and he is one of the main reasons which attracted me to West Ham. I think he’s done unbelievably well with his team so far so I’m really looking forward to working with him and his staff.

“My uncle and my cousin are big West Ham fans and have bought their tickets for the new stadium. My uncle was down here yesterday getting a shirt with my name on the back. It’s nice to have them down here and they’ll help me settle.”