West Ham United are delighted to confirm the signing of outstanding young Portuguese forward Domingos Quina

West Ham United are delighted to confirm the signing of outstanding young Portuguese forward Domingos Quina.



The exciting former Benfica schoolboy will report to the Hammers in July, having recently been crowned a UEFA European U17 champion, with West Ham beating some of Europe’s leading sides to the 16-year-old’s signature.



Quina, who was born in the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau before moving to Portugal as a child, will arrive on an initial two-year scholarship, subject to international clearance, and has agreed terms to sign a professional contract on his 17th birthday in November.



Academy Director and Head of Player Coaching and Development Terry Westley said the Club had pulled off a major coup in securing Quina’s services.



“Attracting a player of Domingos’s quality and potential to the Club is recognition of the stature with which the West Ham United Academy is held,” Westley began. “Domingos spent a month training with us before heading to the European Championship finals and he has seen what we are all about, the way we work and the pathway and plans we put in place for our young players.



“Domingos is an exciting young player and he has seen that we can help him to develop and make the most of his many talents at West Ham United. He wants to come on our journey the same as the likes of Martin Samuelsen, Reece Oxford and Reece Burke see their futures here.



“Slaven Bilic personally met with Domingos during the time he spent training with us and his interest in the player and the discussion they had undoubtedly helped to persuade him that West Ham was the right place to continue his development.



“This is a big signing for the Academy and for West Ham United.”

Attracting a player of Domingos’s quality and potential to the Club is recognition of the stature with which the West Ham United Academy is held

Quina has long been considered one of Portuguese football’s brightest prospects – an opinion confirmed by his outstanding displays at the recent European U17 Championship finals in Azerbaijan.



There, the young forward featured in all six matches, scoring in the group-stage victory over Scotland before starting his country’s victory over Spain in the final.



Prior to that, Quina put in a virtuoso performance showcasing his attacking skills in a 7-3 victory over England U17s at the FA International Tournament in October 2015.



“Domingos has just won the European U17 Championship and is some talent,” Academy Manager Westley continued. “Having seen him train with us for four weeks, I cannot wait for him to arrive back and see what he can do.



“For me, he has the same qualities as a Manuel Lanzini, in that he likes to come deep and receive the ball and then run with it, while he also possesses the quality to run in behind – he is both a goal-scorer and a goal-creator.



“As I said, this is a potentially massive signing for West Ham United.”



Quina becomes the second forward to join West Ham ahead of the 2016/17 season, following 18-year-old Toni Martinez, who has arrived from Spanish side Valencia.



Meanwhile, a host of players have agreed new long-term contracts with the Club, with Jahmal Hector-Ingram, Anthony Scully, Vashon Neufville, Moses Makasi, Dan Kemp, Tunji Akinola, Joe Powell and Grady Diangana all pledging their futures to the Hammers in recent days.