West Ham co-chairman David Gold thinks new signing Sam Byram has the potential to become one of the best full-backs in the country.
The 22-year-old, whose present contract with Leeds United was set to expire in the summer, knocked back two approaches from the Whites for a contract extension and signed for the Hammers on a four-and-a-half-year deal earlier in the week.
Everton too were keen to snap up Byram, with the Merseyside club also agreeing a fee with Leeds for the youngster.
But the right-back, who can also play as a midfielder, chose to move to the London outfit instead.
And Gold admitted that Everton forced West Ham to make a move for Byram this month as the Hammers were initially keen to rope in the Englishman next summer.
relatedNewsStory
However, the 79-year-old, who was delighted with the club’s latest acquisition, feels Byram has it in him to become a world class full-back.
“We are all excited by the arrival of Sam who I am sure will be another quality addition to the squad”, he wrote on his blog on the club website.
“Our plan was to bring him in during the summer, but we needed to move fast as Everton were also hoping to sign him and we won the race to clinch his signature.
“Sam has the potential to be one of the best full-backs in the country and he is a player who could be with us for many years to come.”
Byram could make his West Ham debut later in the day when Slaven Bilic’s team take on Manchester City at Upton Park.
