Sam Byram to West Ham United: Latest Transfer Details, Reaction and More

West Ham United have captured Sam Byram from Leeds United for an undisclosed fee.

The club's official website confirmed the details of the capture on Wednesday, with Byram signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with his new club.

West Ham posted the following image on their Twitter feed of Byram with the iconic claret and blue jersey, along with a few words from their new signing:

Paul Joyce of the Express claimed on Thursday that Everton had agreed a transfer for the player with Leeds chairman Massimo Cellino, after Byram informed the Yorkshire club he would not put pen to paper on a new contract at Elland Road. But West Ham swooped in late to secure the 22-year-old.

Byram has been a regular starter for Leeds since 2012, and he has featured in the England under-20 squad previously. 

Former Leeds manager Brian McDermott recently sang the praises for the defender, saying he was impressed by the young man in his first game in charge, as quoted by Sky Sports' Adam Bate and Charlotte Marsh:

"

The first game after I was appointed was against Sheffield Wednesday and he was playing.

I hadn't seen him play live before and after about 20 minutes the ball came out of the sky, he chested it down and played this terrific ball out wide. I turned around to Neil Redfearn and asked, 'Who's that?!'

"

Byram will give the Hammers vital cover and offer strong competition to the current starting XI. He is a player who needs a step up to advance his career, and a move to the Premier League will undoubtedly advance his reputation.