West Ham United on Tuesday announced the signing of Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague for a fee of £19 million, Afrosport reports.
Diouf has put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Hammers and is expected to be part of their pre-season training camp in Germany this week.
“I’m really happy to be here and to make a progression for my career,” he told the club website. I’m looking forward to working hard and joining my new team-mates.
“Everyone wants to come here to play in the Premier League. I think it is a dream for everyone. When they are here, they want to make everything good.”
Prague to East London 🫡 pic.twitter.com/JpjxwrL9Dx
— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2025
The 20-year-old joined Slavia Prague from Norwegian side Tromso in January 2024 and was integral to their triumph in the Czech top-flight last season.
Diouf, who plays as a full-back or wing-back, leaves Slavia after scoring nine goals and providing four assists in 50 appearances. He found the back of the net seven times in 24 league matches last campaign.
The defender, who is highly sought after, expressed his desire to play for West Ham despite several other options.
He added: “There were a lot of teams [who wanted to sign me], but I chose West Ham United first and I spoke with the coach [Graham Potter] and it was a good plan for me.
“The most important thing is the team, not the player. I want to say to the West Ham supporters I’m very happy to be here with them. I think we’ll make a very good season this year.”
Diouf made his international debut for Senegal in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi in September 2024. He also featured for the Teranga Lions in a historic 3-1 friendly win against England at the City Ground in June.
He will wear the number 12 shirt at West Ham, most recently worn by Flynn Downes and previously worn by the likes of Carlton Cole, Shaka Bishop and Pablo Barrera.
