Henry arrival set to lift Hammers quest to reach Champions League
WEST Ham are set to boost their bid to secure unlikely Champions League qualification by reinforcing their defensive options with the signing of Canada youngster Doneil Henry next month.
Henry, who impressed Hammers manager Sam Allardyce during a trial earlier this year, has been granted a work permit to complete a transfer from Cypriot side Apollon Limassol.
The 21-year-old centre-back is to move to London without playing a single match for Apollon Limassol, who bought him in March but loaned him straight back to Toronto until the end of the Major League Soccer season.
Former QPR captain and then-Toronto coach Ryan Nelsen, who played under Allardyce at Blackburn, recommended Henry to the West Ham boss, leading to a two-and-a-half-week trial nine months ago.
His arrival is likely to further increase speculation over the long-term future of Upton Park centre-half Winston Reid, who looks increasingly unlikely to extend his contract, which is due to expire at the end of the current season.