Ashton joins West Ham

DEAN ASHTON has agreed personal terms with West Ham and will sign after undergoing a medical at Upton Park today.

Ashton earlier revealed the chance to return to the Premiership was “too good to turn down” after the Hammers agreed a £7.25m deal with Norwich for the England U21 international.

West Ham will pay £7m plus a conditional £250,000 while a 15% sell-on clause has also been negotiated.

“I have had a great year at Norwich and would like to sincerely thank the fans and everyone I have worked with at Carrow Road,” said Ashton.

“West Ham are a big club, I am ambitious and at the end of the day the chance of a swift step up to the Premiership is too good to turn down.

Ashton’s former club Crewe will receive £1.5m up front due to a sell-on clause included when they sold him to Norwich for £3m a year ago.

The large transfer fee will surprise many - Wigan boss Paul Jewell baulked at Norwich’s demand for “silly money” before Christmas - but West Ham managing director Paul Aldridge believes it will be money well spent as the Hammers look to consolidate in the Premiership.

“Alan Pardew has identified Dean as a player who can play a key role in helping the club to reach a new level, and we have therefore worked extremely hard to ensure that the transfer goes ahead,” he said.

“We are paying a club record transfer fee for Dean because we feel that, at 22, he represents an investment that can benefit West Ham for years to come at the highest level.”