Aguerd has 25 international caps for his country, having made his Morocco national team debut in a friendly against Albania in August 2016.
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Premier League club West Ham United have completed its first summer signing by acquiring the services of Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd. The 26-year-old defender joins the London-based side from French club Rennes. He has signed a five-year contract with Hammers and will wear the No.27 shirt. The transfer fee is reported to be around £30m, including add-ons. West Ham experienced a positive campaign in the recently concluded 2021-22 Premier League season, finishing seventh in the end. Aguerd’s signing will provide them with the platform to build upon last campaign’s seventh-place finish.
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Nayef Aguerd began his senior career with Moroccan professional football club FUS Rabat in 2014. After spending four seasons with the club he joined Dijon in French Ligue 1. A couple of years later, he moved to Rennes in 2020 and it was here he started to gain attraction from several clubs with his consistent performances. Aguerd spent two years with the club before joining West Ham. He also has 25 international caps for his country, having made his Morocco national team debut in a friendly against Albania in August 2016.
Welcome to West Ham United, @AguerdNayef! ??⚒ pic.twitter.com/BDotHMUpEZ
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 20, 2022
West Ham United manager David Moyes, as quoted by their club’s website, said, “I am delighted to welcome Nayef to West Ham United. We have tracked his progress for some time and I’m very pleased that we have been able to complete the signing. He’s a great addition that will add to our defensive options. I have been really impressed with Nayef’s character and attitude during our discussions. He has a great desire to improve and be successful, and I am sure he will fit in very well to the environment we have at Rush Green.”
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“West Ham is a historic Club,” Aguerd told former player Carlton Cole during an interaction on West Ham TV. “I saw a few West Ham games this year, and I saw the fans and the atmosphere were fantastic, with the bubbles! I spent two wonderful years at Rennes. I will never forget these years, but it was time to go and reach another club and another ambition. I was really excited when I heard that West Ham were interested in me.
“Also, the fans sent me messages on social media. I didn’t answer because I couldn’t, but when I saw I knew I needed to go to the Premier League. It’s a dream for every player. Since I was a child, my dream was to play in Europe. I know real football is played in Europe. In Morocco, we have a lot of good players but for me – it wasn’t that I wanted to change the mindset of those Moroccan players – but for me it was Europe. It is really hard to go to Europe and play when you’re born in Africa. For me, it was a dream, and I’m in Europe and I’m very happy.”
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