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Football London
Football London
Sport
Scott Clayton

Emerson Palmieri completes transfer switch from Chelsea to London rivals West Ham United

West Ham have completed the signing of the 28-year-old Italy international defender, who has joined the Hammers on a four-year contract, with a one-year option, for an undisclosed fee from fellow Premier League club Chelsea.

Emerson Palmieri signed for the Blues in January 2018 from Italian side Roma. He spent last season on loan at French side Lyon after falling down the pecking order behind Marcos Alonso and Ben Chilwell, and now with Marc Cucurella also joined, his chances of first-team football under Thomas Tuchel looked slim.

The club tried to recall the defender from his season-long loan in January when Ben Chilwell picked up a serious injury against Juventus in November.

READ MORE: Premier League rival told to take advantage of 'stupid' Chelsea transfer decision amid £60m bid

Emerson, who has 27 caps for Italy at international level and started the Euro 2020 final against England at Wembley last summer, is looking forward to wearing the Claret and Blue of West Ham and continuing his career in east London.

"I'm very happy to be here and to arrive here," he said. "It's a big challenge for me. It's a big team, so I'm very happy to be here, and I'm ready.

"Personally, since the first day I arrived here in England, I always saw the big clubs, and I always watched the big games, and I knew the history about West Ham. The history is so, so big for this team and so when I knew about the interest for sure I said 'Yes, let's go, I want to go there' and I'm here now! I can't wait to get started in a West Ham shirt."

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