West Ham have signed highly-rated youngster Daniel Rigge after the midfielder was released by Manchester City at the end of the season.
The 16-year-old had been expected to join since training with West Ham and even featuring for the Hammers at youth level earlier this season, but also trialled at a number of other leading clubs before formally committing in east London. There is no transfer fee involved in the switch, nor will any compensation be due to City.
Rigge, who is not yet old enough to sign a professional deal, will join the Irons’ academy and his arrival will, unsurprisingly, have no bearing on David Moyes’ first-team transfer plans.
Moyes is looking to make significant improvements to his squad in terms of both depth and quality ahead of a second successive season of European football.
The Hammers are still pushing to complete a deal for Rennes centre-back Nayef Aguerd, while also looking to make Alphonse Areola’s loan move from Paris Saint-Germain permanent. Moyes is also in the market for reinforcements at left-back, in central midfield and up front.
