An attack-minded left-back, Fabio Daprela is highly thought of both at West Ham United and in his home country of Switzerland, where he is already a regular at Under-19 level.

Signed by Swiss giants Grasshopper Club Zurich at the age of nine, Daprela spent nine years with the club, making his first-team debut at the age of 16.

Originally signed as a back-up to Herita Ilunga, the defender made an impressive impact after making his debut for the Hammers in the FA Cup third-round defeat by Arsenal on 3 January 2010.

2009/10

Signed for West Ham United from Grasshopper Club Zurich on a five-year contract on 1 July 2009…Made his West Ham United debut in the 2-1 home FA Cup third-round defeat by Arsenal on 3 January 2010…Made his Premier League debut in 4-1 loss at Chelsea on 13 March 2010…Ended his first season at West Ham United having made seven Premier League appearances, four of them starts…Made one FA Cup appearance in his first season at the Boleyn Ground…Booked three times.

International career

Represented Switzerland at U17 and U19 levels…Faced Spain, Republic of Ireland and France at the 2008 UEFA U17 Championship in Turkey…Appeared nine times in UEFA competition for Switzerland at U17 level…Made his U19 debut in a 1-1 home friendly draw with Canada on 26 November 2008…Faced England, Slovenia and Ukraine at the 2009 UEFA U19 Championship in Ukraine…Missed the 2010 UEFA U19 Championship Elite Round qualifiers due to injury…Earned 12 U19 caps to the end of the 2009/10 season.

Before West Ham United

Joined SC YF Juventus at the age of nine…Spent three seasons at SC YF Juventus before moving to Grasshopper Club Zurich in July 2003 at the age of 12…Made first-team debut for Grasshopper Club Zurich in 2-0 Swiss Super League win at Sion on 2 February 2008…Made his UEFA Cup debut for Grasshopper Zurich in the 6-0 second qualifying round defeat by Lech Poznan on 14 August 2008…Made 23 Swiss Super League appearances over two seasons at Grasshopper Club Zurich.

Any other business

Names Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta and Brazil full-back Dani Alves as his favourite players…Names Anfield as his favourite other stadium…Is a big tennis fan and was a talented player as a child.