West Ham United have successfully completed the signing of Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate on a four-year contract.

The 24-year-old, who had been previously linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, will be the Hammers' second signing of the summer following Mauro Zarate's arrival.

The talented defender heaped praise on manager Sam Allardyce for sparing his vacation in order to secure his signature.

"That I'm here now is thanks to the manager, because he went out of his way, leaving his holiday for me, so he has done everything he could for me to join the club," Kouyate told the club's official website."He, my advisers and agents helped me make the right decision and said West Ham was the ideal club for me, because as a kid I dreamed of playing in the Premier League and now it's here that my dream has been realised."

Kouyate notched up 38 appearances for Anderlecht last season.