West Ham have signed teenage goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel from Swiss side Grasshoppers for an undisclosed fee, the newly-promoted Barclays Premier League side have announced.
The 19-year-old, who is a Switzerland Under-20 international, has penned a three-year contract until 2015 with an option for a further year and will arrive at the club this week.
The 6ft 3in custodian made 17 appearances for Swiss second tier side SC Bruhl SG last season, having played 41 games in the previous two campaigns for Grasshoppers' second team in the third tier.
Spiegel is expected to provide back-up to senior goalkeepers Jussi Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson, who both joined the Hammers this summer following the club's promotion from the npower Championship.
West Ham have also brought in defender George McCartney, midfielder Mohamed Diame and forward Modibo Maiga as manager Sam Allardyce shapes his squad for the new campaign.
PA
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