West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of highly-rated full-back Sam Byram from Leeds United

West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of highly-rated full-back Sam Byram from Leeds United.



The Essex-born player joins the Hammers, who have fought off strong competition to capture the promising 22-year-old, on a four-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee.



A technically-gifted, fast and athletic attacking right-back or right midfielder, Byram has moved to the Boleyn Ground after four outstanding seasons in the first team at Elland Road – and cannot wait to get his Claret and Blue career under way.



“I'm unbelievably proud and happy to join a Club as big as this,” said Byram, who will wear the No22 shirt. “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 so I'm looking forward to seeing them.



“I'm also really looking forward to seeing the new Stadium in person. That was another big part in me wanting to come here. It's a massive part of the future of the Club and I can't wait to see and hopefully play in it.”



Born in Thurrock, Byram moved to Yorkshire as a child and grew up in York, playing for the city’s Schools team before joining Leeds United at the age of eleven in 2005.



The 6’0 player came through the Academy before establishing himself in The Peacocks’ first-team squad at the start of the 2012/13 season.



Byram made his Leeds debut in a League Cup victory over Shrewsbury Town in August 2012, scoring his maiden goal against Oxford United later the same month. Then just 19, he totalled 53 appearances and made a clean sweep of Leeds’ end-of-season Player Awards.



Despite being repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League, Byram remained loyal to the Whites, being moved into a more advanced right wing position last season. He departs Elland Road having made 143 appearances and scored ten goals.



An impressive December 2015 saw Byram score three goals for Leeds and be named The Championship Player of the Month, and West Ham fans will hope he continues that outstanding form in a Claret and Blue shirt.