Hawa Cissoko could not contain her delight at completing a move to West Ham United.
The French international signed for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League side on Monday, becoming Matt Beard’s fourth new acquisition ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, following Mackenzie Arnold, Maz Pacheco and Katerina Svitkova in joining the Irons.
The defender says the pull of joining a club the size of West Ham and the chance to play in England, alongside international colleague Kenza Dali, was one she could not turn down.
“It makes me very happy to join West Ham,” Cissoko told West Ham TV. “It is a dream for me to come and play in England. I’m so very, very, very happy to be here.
“I chose West Ham because it’s a big club and I know people that play here, from the French team, like Kenza. I’ve known Kenza since I was maybe 15-years-old.”
Cissoko is looking forward to testing herself in the top-flight of women’s football in England, having heard so much about the physicality and quality of the division.
With her move to the Hammers signed and sealed, the 23-year-old is now keen to impress head coach Beard and his coaching staff and earn her spot in the West Ham starting XI.
She added: “I know about the English league. I know it is very hard and I like the hard contact! It’s good for me. I’m fast, I’m strong and I like to play football.
“My ambition now is to play all the games and win the maximum trophies I can with this team!”
