West Ham United have signed Senegalese defender El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague on a long-term deal, the Premier League club said on Tuesday evening.

Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed but British media reported West Ham paid an initial fee of £19 million for the 20-year-old.

Diouf was part of the Senegal team which secured a 3-1 victory over England in a friendly last month, the first African team to beat England in 22 games.

"There were a lot of teams (who wanted to sign me), but I chose West Ham United first and I spoke with the coach (Graham Potter) and it was a good plan for me," Diouf said.

West Ham begin their 2025-26 Premier League campaign on 16 August with a trip to Sunderland.

Born in Dakar, Diouf began his football career at the Galaxy Football Academy and then the Académie Mawade Wade. On 21 February 2023, after a successful trial, Diouf signed with Norwegian side Tromsø.

In January 2024, Diouf signed for Czech top flight club Slavia Prague on a four-and-a-half-year contract.