Sofiane Feghouli has been one of West Ham’s big summer signings so far. However, many fans may not have heard an awful lot about him before. So here is everything you need to know about the Algerian winger:
Background
Feghouli was born in Paris to Algerian parents. He started off at French club Grenoble as a teenager, and was considered a hot prospect, being dubbed the ‘new Zidane’. He made his first-team debut at the age of 17, and quickly became a stalwart of the team. By 2010 he was being courted by big clubs across Europe.
He signed for Valencia. Despite struggling for first team football initially, he became a regular starter from 2012. Overall, he scored 43 goals in 243 appearances, and became a highly influential player at the club.
Internationally, Feghouli opted to represent Algeria instead of France. He is something of a talisman for his nation. Feghouli has scored 11 goals in 40 caps, and played for Algeria in 3 major tournaments. He has also been named Algerian Footballer of the Year multiple times.
How did West Ham get him?
He moved on a free transfer after seeing out his contract at Valencia. The 26-year-old was convinced to come over by Slaven Bilic, who stressed the magnitude of West Ham’s ambitions for the future. The Olympic stadium move and the chance to play in the Premier League were also major draws.
Position and playing style
Feghouli primarily plays on the right wing, although he can also be deployed as a regular attacking midfielder.
His main attributes are strength and speed. He has used his blistering pace and dribbling ability to terrorise La Liga right backs for the last few years. He also has an excellent aerial presence, and can be relied on to grab some goals from set pieces.
Feghouli is also a brilliant passer of the ball, with an excellent reading of the game. Expect him to launch swift counter attacks with pinpoint passes, and get plenty of assists.
Where would he fit into the West Ham team?
With Feghouli in the fold, West Ham are certainly not short of attacking midfield options right now. Fellow winger Gökhan Töre has also come in this summer, and do not forget about Antonio (although Bilic may well play him at right back).
A possible combination may be an attacking midfield trio consisting of Tore on the left, Feghouli on the right, and Payet playing through the centre as a playmaker. This would be an excellent blend, with collective pace and skill able to penetrate through any Premier League defence.
Feghouli will not be guaranteed a starting place, though. There is plenty of depth in the squad, and Bilic will be wanting to find a place for Lanzini in his midfield. Therefore, Feghouli will have fight hard to impress.
When will we see him in action?
There was some speculation that Feghouli could miss the beginning of the season to represent Algeria at the Olympics. However, it is now confirmed that he will not be in the squad.
So we may see Bilic utilise Feghouli in the Europa League qualifiers. Otherwise, he will certainly feature for West Ham when the Premier League season starts in August.
All Hammers fans will be hoping that he can make a real impression at the Olympic Stadium, and help take the club to new heights.
