West Ham transfer news: Pablo Fornals joins Hammers for £24m from Villarreal

Manuel Pellegrini has made the Spanish midfielder the club's second most expensive player after Felipe Anderson

West Ham have completed a deal for Spanish attacking midfielder Pablo Fornals from Villarreal for a reported £24 million.

Fornals, 23, has signed a five-year contract with the Hammers with the option to extend his time at the London Stadium by a further 12 months.

The club confirmed the 23-year-old will be "the second most-expensive signing in the club's history behind Felipe Anderson", who joined from Lazio last summer for £34million deal.

Fornals will play for Spain in the European Under-21 Championship in Italy and admitted his delight at the move.

"I'm very happy to be part of West Ham," Fornals said. "I feel very good, very happy and very grateful for the opportunity that has been provided to me.

"I want the club to continue giving opportunities to young and ambitious people, people who want to do well for the long term."

Fornals has two senior international caps and was familiar to West Ham's director of football Mario Husillos from their time together at Malaga.

"I know about the loyal fans and the stadium, which is a beautiful stadium," Fornals added.

"The fans fill the stadium every weekend and that is something admirable, especially with the passion with which football is lived there. I think it is important to play with the support of your fans at home."

Fornals (L) moves to West Ham for £24m (Getty) (Getty Images)

"Of course, Manuel was a big influence because in the end he is one of the best coaches in the world and who doesn't want to work with people like that?"

And Husillos is confident West Ham are getting a player with outstanding quality.

"He is a player we have monitored closely for some time, having seen him make excellent progress as a young midfielder in one of the best leagues in the world," Husillos said.

"I personally have followed his career since he was a youth player with me at Malaga, and I know we have signed an incredible professional and an incredible character.

"He joins us a young player still with many years ahead of him, yet with strong experience and already proven at the very highest level.

"We look forward to seeing the impact he will have in a West Ham shirt, and believe that he has all of the qualities required to become a big success in the Premier League."