Enner Valencia to replace Salah at Chelsea
Chelsea are laying the groundwork for a summer move for West Ham striker
Enner Valencia. The Ecuador international has impressed in his first
season in the Premier League and is wanted as a replacement for Mohamed
Salah.
On 29 July 2014, English Premier League club West Ham United completed the transfer of Valencia, on a five-year contract for a fee estimated at £12 million. He later confirmed that he knew little about West Ham before signing and that he mainly knew of them having watched hooligan films such as the 2005 release of Green Street starring Elijah Wood.
Valencia made his West Ham debut on 16 August 2014 in a 1–0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur coming on as an 81st minute substitute for Carlton Cole. On 27 August, he had his penalty saved by Mark Howard as West Ham were knocked out at home in the second round of the Football League Cup by Sheffield United. Valencia's debut goal for West Ham came in his full league debut, against Hull City on 15 September 2014, in a 2–2 draw. The 25 yards (23 m) strike, timed at 61 miles per hour (98 km/h), was described by journalist Henry Winter of The Daily Telegraph as an "exceptional goal". Valencia went on to score two more goals for West Ham in the following weeks, including a header in a 3–1 away win at Burnley, and a goal in a 2–2 draw with Stoke City.
After playing for the nation's under-22 team at the 2011 Pan American Games, Valencia made his debut for the Ecuador national football team on 12 February 2012 in a friendly match against Honduras.
On 29 July 2014, English Premier League club West Ham United completed the transfer of Valencia, on a five-year contract for a fee estimated at £12 million. He later confirmed that he knew little about West Ham before signing and that he mainly knew of them having watched hooligan films such as the 2005 release of Green Street starring Elijah Wood.
Valencia made his West Ham debut on 16 August 2014 in a 1–0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur coming on as an 81st minute substitute for Carlton Cole. On 27 August, he had his penalty saved by Mark Howard as West Ham were knocked out at home in the second round of the Football League Cup by Sheffield United. Valencia's debut goal for West Ham came in his full league debut, against Hull City on 15 September 2014, in a 2–2 draw. The 25 yards (23 m) strike, timed at 61 miles per hour (98 km/h), was described by journalist Henry Winter of The Daily Telegraph as an "exceptional goal". Valencia went on to score two more goals for West Ham in the following weeks, including a header in a 3–1 away win at Burnley, and a goal in a 2–2 draw with Stoke City.
After playing for the nation's under-22 team at the 2011 Pan American Games, Valencia made his debut for the Ecuador national football team on 12 February 2012 in a friendly match against Honduras.
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