West Ham United have confirmed the signing of Doneil Henry from Apollon Limassol, sparking more speculation over the future of Winston Reid.
It is believed the Hammers have paid the Cypriot First Division club a fee of around £1.5million for Henry, who made his debut for the Canadian national side in 2012 and has won a further 12 caps. The 21-year-old, who stands at 6ft 2in tall, arrives at Upton Park on the recommendation of Ryan Nelsen, who has worked with the player whilst at MLS side FC Toronto.
“Ryan was my captain at Blackburn for a couple of years and he rang us and told us about Doneil,” Sam Allardyce told West Ham’s website. “He said this lad definitely has Premier League potential and he has everything he needs. With a little coaching from us and work in terms of how to defend in the Premier League, Ryan says he has all the attributes to be a good player.”
Although Henry will link up with West Ham’s first team squad upon his arrival in the capital, Allardyce has made it clear he sees the youngster as one for the future. However, there is no doubt that his signing will increase speculation over the future of Reid, the New Zealand international, who is out of contract in the summer and wanted by both Arsenal and Liverpool.
The 26-year-old has made a big impact in England since joining West Ham in 2010, and Allardyce is reluctant to let the central defender leave and has even suggested he is prepared to see him walk out on a free transfer at the end of the season rather than lose him in January. However, his board may think otherwise, especially if they can make a profit on his signature this month.
Has Henry been signed as a replacement for Reid, or can Allardyce retain the services of the New Zealand international? Have your say in the discussion below.
