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West Ham announce £12m signing of Danny Ings from Aston Villa… as David Moyes gets desperately needed extra firepower ahead of relegation clash with Everton
- Danny Ings has completed a move to join David Moyes at struggling West Ham
- The former Aston Villa striker battled for minutes with Spaniard Unai Emery
- The 30-year-old has signed a contract with West Ham until the summer of 2025
- Ings has scored seven goals in 21 appearances this season despite a supporting role.
West Ham have announced the £12m signing of striker Danny Ings from Aston Villa as a way of fighting their way out of relegation troubles.
David Moyes has been a longtime admirer of the 30-year-old striker, who has scored seven goals in 21 games this season and signed until the summer of 2025.
Ings will wear the No. 18 shirt for West Ham and is eligible to make his debut against Everton tomorrow in a crucial clash at the bottom of the Premier League after documents were sent before Friday’s midday deadline.
West Ham announced the signing of £15m striker Danny Ings from Aston Villa on Friday.
Ings expressed delight at joining the east London club and admitted there is a sense of urgency to start work.
“I am very excited to join West Ham United”, Ings told the club’s website. “It’s important that I adapt as quickly as I can and do the important things on the pitch for West Ham.”
‘We have some big games ahead of us, and I’ve come here to try to score as many goals as I can to help the team get some positive results. I really want to start.’
Sportsmail reported interest from West Ham earlier this month, along with Everton, who wanted the 30-year-old on an initial loan.
The former Liverpool hitman could debut for the Hammers in their crucial match against Everton
Sportsmail has also previously reported that Villa did not want to loan the former England international but was open to listening to permanent offers, particularly after signing Jhon Duran from the Chicago Fire this week.
In the end, Moyes and the Hammers hierarchy pulled the trigger to ensure the experienced Premier League striker found a home at London Stadium.
“I am very happy to add Danny to the team,” he told the club’s website. He is a proven Premier League goalscorer and will add some serious competition for places in the third attack.
“We are looking forward to integrating him into the group as we enter a busy period in our season.”
Ings scored against the Toffees earlier this season during Villa’s 2-1 home win in mid-August.
Ings was brought to Aston Villa from Southampton by former Liverpool manager and teammate Steven Gerrard, but had trouble for minutes with current Villa boss Unai Emery.
Since the Spaniard took over, Ings has played just 188 minutes in six Premier League games, his only start coming in a 2-1 win at Brighton, where he scored twice.
Ings has scored 14 goals in 52 games for Villa since joining the club for £25 million in the summer of 2021 from Saints.
He has also played in the Premier League for Burnley, Liverpool and Southampton after spells through the Bournemouth youth ranks while they were in the Football League.
The 30-year-old’s last goal for Aston Villa came in a 1-1 draw at Wolves on 4 January.
Ings will most likely bring Premier League knowledge and guaranteed goals, plus a work rate that suits Moyes’ ethos.
The coach faces a crucial match against his former club Everton on Saturday amid doubts about his own future and that of his counterpart Frank Lampard.
Fortunately for Moyes, Ings loves playing against old Merseyside rivals Everton. The striker has a better record against the Toffees than any team in his career.
In 15 games against the Blues, Ings scored seven goals and provided three assists. Earlier this season, he opened the scoring in Everton’s 2-1 defeat at Villa Park.
He has scored seven goals in 21 games for Villa this season despite a peripheral role