Despite most of the media saying Enner Valencia has already signed for as much as £15m there is a few more hurdles for West Ham to jump before he can be announced as a West Ham player.



Although the medical has been passed and personal terms have been agreed with the player the two clubs have yet to complete the legal paperwork. With the time difference with Mexico being six hours behind this has been a slow process and may take a couple more days to finalise I hear. Although figures of £12m to £15m have been quoted in the press I understand the initial fee is likely to be much lower (around the £7m mark) but with add-ons, goals, appearances and other targets it could take the final amount close to the media quoted amount eventually. There is also rumour of a sell on clause while others suggest the Mexican club will retain 30% ownership which I find unlikely.

An initial £7m fee would take us very close to our £20m transfer kitty budget after spending £7.5m on Kouyate, £1m on Zarate & Poyet in agent fees and compensation and £3.75m on Cresswell. Any further signing would need to be free transfers, loan or cheap deals so you can discount any mega money transfer rumours.

Valencia will also need to get a work permit to work in this country which should a formality considering his World cup appearances but with Sam Allardyce flying to New Zealand tomorrow night with the rest of the team it seems unlikely the work permit will be completed within the next two weeks. Sam would usually be present to the Work permit panel to give it credibility so hence the possible delay.

Despite the work permit issue I still expect West Ham to announce Valencia as a new player but will say it is subject to him getting his work permit.

Valencia joined Emelec in 2008 from Caribe Junior’s youth system, From 2008 to early 2010 he received no opportunities in the first team, but with the arrival of the Argentinian coach Jorge Sampaoli, Valencia started to receive playtime opportunities. Valencia’s first professional career goal was on 10th March 2010, scoring the only goal to gain an important away win against Ecuadorian giants LDU Quito.

Valencia initially began his career as a winger, but was converted to play as a striker by Emelec coach Gustavo Quinteros. Reinaldo Rueda started experimenting with Valencia as a striker after the untimely death of Christian Benítez. After numerous rumors involving the interest of Pachuca for Valencia, both Parties came to terms and agreed on a transfer in 2014.

On 18th January 2014, Valencia scored his first goal for Pachuca in a 2–1 victory against Tijuana. The following week he scored two goals to in Pachuca’s first away win league match against league champions Club León. He finished the season as the top goal-scorer with 12 goals, scoring various braces for Pachuca. Valencia scored his first hatitrick against UNAM in a 2–4 away win to advance in the Liga MX Apertura 2014 Playoffs. On 15 May, Valencia scored a brace on the first leg of the Liga MX Finals, winning the away match 3–2. In total Valencia netted 18 times in 23 games for Pachuca last season and also scored all three of Ecuador’s goals at the World Cup finals in Brazil.

After making three appearances in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, he scored his first international goal in a 2–2 draw against Honduras on 19 November 2013. He continued his good form in 2014, scoring in three of Ecuador’s four pre-tournament friendlies. On 5 March, he scored, assisted a goal and won a penalty kick as La Tri came from 3–0 down to defeat Australia 4–3.5 He then scored the team’s only goal in a 3–1 loss against Mexico, and gave them an early lead in a 2–2 draw with England in Miami. In June 2014, Valencia was named in Ecuador’s squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On 15 June, he made his FIFA World Cup debut in the team’s opening match against Switzerland at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in Brasília, opening the scoring with a header in a 2–1 defeat. In Ecuador’s second match, Valencia scored both goals to defeat Honduras 2–1 in Curitiba.