Emmanuel Emenike to West Ham: Latest Loan Transfer Details, Reaction and More

West Ham United have captured Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike on loan from Fenerbahce until the end of the season.

The club confirmed the deal via their official Twitter account on Sunday night:

In a statement on their website, West Ham further confirmed they have the option to buy the striker on a permanent deal at the end of the season.

Emenike revealed his excitement at playing for the Hammers in their final season at Upton Park:

Further, he is now looking forward to working with Hammers manager Slaven Bilic:

Irons joint-chairman David Gold also welcomed the player on Twitter:

Sports journalists Jonas Giaever and Oluwashina Okeleji believe Emenike will be an exciting signing:

Emenike was previously on loan at Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, where he scored seven times in 11 appearances. 

The 28-year-old scored nine goals for Nigeria in 37 outings—four of which came in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations as he fired the Super Eagles to their third success in the competition—before retiring from international football in 2015.

Overall, Emenike isn't an especially prolific goalscorer at club level—his record of 78 goals in 179 appearances is reasonable, but almost half of those came either in the Turkish second tier or the UAE. For Fenerbahce, he has racked up just 17 goals in 66 showings, including just five in the entirety of last season.

Still, as a loan signing, the forward represents a relatively low risk for the Hammers, and he can bring more to the side than just the occasional goal. According to Goal's Ed Dove, Emenike "possesses work rate, physicality and desire to battle with defenders."

He should also be able to create opportunities for his team-mates. He recorded eight assists for Fenerbahce in all competitions last year, and according to Squawka, he created 41 chances in 27 Super Lig appearances for them.

Indeed, he should make a useful option alongside Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho. His arrival could also see the curtain come down early on Nikica Jelavic's Hammers career, with the 30-year-old struggling to impress since his arrival in the summer.

As for Emenike himself, playing in the Premier League offers him the chance to arrest the decline his career has taken following his performance in the Cup of Nations.