West Ham capped off a frantic transfer deadline day with the loan signing of Igor Julio from Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Hammers started deadline day looking for a central defender after accepting a fee of around £20m from Marseille for Nayef Aguerd. With only three other central defenders at the club Graham Potter wanted to replace him, and that replacement is Igor Julio.
The 27-year-old left-footed central defender signed after the 7pm deadline on a season-long loan from Brighton and Hove Albion with no option to buy. The former Fiorentina man is known for his aggressive defending and composure on the ball.
“I am really happy to be here at West Ham United,” said Igor. “It is a big Club, a historic Club, with fantastic support and a special identity. I saw this in Prague during the Europa Conference League final two years ago, and I feel very proud to now be representing the colours.
“The project here is very exciting – there are many good players at the Club and I know that there is a very positive environment in the dressing room that it will be great to be a part of. I am ready for the challenge and looking forward to giving everything I can to help the team and the Club.”
Graham Potter was a big reason Igor is at the club, he wanted to replace Nayef Aguerd with another left-footed centre-back so the squad still had two right footed options and two left footed options.
“I’m really pleased to have signed Igor and look forward to bringing him into our group,” said the Head Coach. “He is an experienced defender with a good pedigree, who knows the Premier League well and has impressed during his time with Brighton.
“He has strengths and qualities that we believe will help us and add to what we already have here, and I know he is really excited about the challenge and wearing the West Ham United shirt.
“It’s been a positive few days with the arrivals of Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa, followed by a great win at Nottingham Forest yesterday, and it’s nice to round it off by welcoming Igor to the Club.”
