‘Born to be a Hammer’: West Ham sign Colombia forward Manuela Paví

West Ham have signed the Colombia forward Manuela Paví for an undisclosed fee from Deportivo Cali. Subject to a work permit, the 23-year-old has agreed a three-year-contract with Rehanne Skinner’s side.

“It’s a dream come true for me to join West Ham United,” said Paví, who has been given the No 11 shirt. “I’m very grateful to be here. When my agent told me there was a possibility to join West Ham, I felt super-excited because I come from a place in Colombia that is very similar to east London – where the people are from humble beginnings and are working class. That is why I know I was born to be a Hammer. I will fight for this club and give my everything for the famous claret and blue.

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“The fans can expect to have an extension of themselves on the pitch. I am like them, and I will fight for them and for my teammates to have a fantastic season together.”

Paví is West Ham’s sixth summer signing, after the arrivals of the Canada centre-back Shelina Zadorsky from Tottenham, the French youth international left-back Inès Belloumou from Bayern Munich, the Chile centre-back Camila Sáez from Madrid CFF, the German striker Shekiera Martinez from Eintracht Frankfurt and the Poland goalkeeper Kinga Szemik from Reims.

Paví, who played in all four of Colombia’s fixtures at this summer’s Olympics, had been with Deportivo Cali since 2020 and previously played for the Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro. She won Colombian league titles with Deportivo Cali in 2021 and 2024.

“We are delighted to bring a player of Manuela’s quality to the club,” Skinner told the club’s website . “Manuela is an exciting, energetic forward that has the ability to unlock defences from anywhere across the front line. Her performances for her previous club and Colombia have been outstanding, most notably her superb impact at this summer’s Olympic Games.”