West Ham United can confirm that we have now completed
the signing of Spanish striker Kepa Blanco from Sevilla on loan
until the end of the season.
The 23-year-old has passed a medical and finalised terms on a deal
that will see him spend the rest of the campaign at Upton Park,
with the Club retaining an exclusive option to make the transfer
permanent if desired.
Born in Marbella in January 1984, Kepa joined Sevilla as a
schoolboy and progressed through the youth ranks before making his
senior debut in a UEFA Cup match against AEK Athens in December
2004.
His Primera Liga debut followed later that season against Atletico
Madrid, but it wasn't until the start of the 2005-06 campaign
that he made a notable impact, scoring his first goal in a 1-0
victory over Racing Santander on the opening day, before going on
to make 11 starts and 20 substitute appearances in the League and
UEFA Cup, notching seven goals in the process, including a
memorable winner against Barcelona.
Kepa was an unused substitute as Sevilla enjoyed glory in the UEFA
Cup final with a 4-0 victory over Middlesbrough last May, but he
kicked off this season by scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over
Levante and scored three goals in six UEFA Cup appearances before
falling out of favour with coach Juande Ramos.
The former Spanish under-21 international made his latest
appearance for Sevilla in a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano in the
Spanish Copa del Rey on January 10, replacing former Hammers
striker Fredi Kanoute.
Described by manager Alan Curbishley as a typically old-fashioned
centre-forward who is strong in the air and has an eye for goal,
Kepa will be eligible for our FA Cup fourth round tie against
Watford on Saturday.
