One to Watch – Enner Valencia

Name: Enner Valencia

Date of Birth: 4/11/1989

Nationality: Ecuador

Former Clubs: Emelec, Pachuca

League Appearances (Goals): 152 (46)

International Appearances (Goals): 15 (8)

Stat of the Day: Enner Valencia has scored eight goals in his last ten games for Ecuador

Player Profile: From Ecuadorian farmer, to professional footballer, to Eastern Mexico, to World Cup star, to ending up in the East end of London, Enner Valencia has already had some journey in his short but promising career. The striker`s three World Cup goals in Brazil earlier this summer brought him to the summit of world football`s attention and West Ham fought off competition from top European clubs (believe what you will) to capture the signature of the 24-year-old in July. So outraged were the West Ham fans at any pass that dared leave the surface of the Upton Park playing field, Allardyce has appeared to bring in a new-fangled Hammers attacking style with the appointment of Teddy Sheringham as an ‘attacking coach`, employing an athletic smartness to their play and securing the signings of exciting, attacking players such as Valencia.

The frontman already has one world-class goal to his name this season, despite probably lacking match fitness since returning from international duty, and looks to be building a capable partnership with other recent acquisition Diafra Sakho up front. Having started out as a midfielder, Valencia`s international and club goalscoring records are nothing short of impressive and whilst Allardyce isn`t afraid of signing his obligatory woeful striker each season (see Andy Carroll, Modibo Maiga etc.), he may have hit the mark with £12 million Valencia. The Ecuadorian looks to have settled in well at Upton Park, despite using football hooligan film Green Street as his only indication of life at West Ham before arriving in London, and will be hoping to continue his notable goal tally.

Playing Career:

Enner Valencia was born on the North Coast of Ecuador and started out at youth club Caribe Junior. He moved to Club Sport Emelec in 2008 and despite struggling for first team action in his first two years with the club came to prominence in 2010 with a flurry of goals and impressive performances.

Valencia helped his side to three consecutive runner-up finishes in the Ecuadorian Serie A before finally being crowned Champions in 2013, as well as topping the goalscoring charts in South America`s version of the Europa League that same season.

Impressive performances and 27 goals in 124 league appearances saw Valencia move to Mexican side C.F. Pachuca in January 2014.
In Mexico Valencia found the net with unerring regularity, banging in 18 goals in just 23 Torneo Clausura appearances as Pachuca finished as runners-up to Leon at the end of the 2014 campaign. An impressive World Cup, in which he scored three times, saw him finally move to Europe in a £12 million, five-year deal with West Ham. His debut goal came in a 2-2 draw against Hull in September.