Ligue 1: Lens beat Chelsea and West Ham United to Elye Wahi signing

Ligue 1 club, Lens have announced the permanent signing of French striker Elye Wahi from Montpellier HSC on a permanent deal.

20-year-old Elye Wahi who arrived at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis to succeed last season’s top scorer Lois Openda, who left for German giants RB Leipzig earlier in the summer window, signed a five-year contract with Lens and it was gathered that the French outfit paid €30m (£25.7m) fee for his services.

With the deal completed, Chelsea and West Ham have missed out on the French striker they wanted to sign.

While Wahi harboured doubts about the Chelsea sporting project and his role in the team under Mauricio Pochettino, an offer from West Ham was also rejected.

Confirming the new signing, Lens managing director Arnaud Pouille said;

“The signing of Elye Wahi is a sign of strong ambition for Racing. He is a great hope of French football who hatched two years ago and who confirmed last season in Ligue 1. At 20, beyond his power and his high-level skills, he exudes a lot of character and maturity.

“Elye arrives from a family club and I also salute the quality of the relationship with the MHSC which has allowed a promise of the championship to continue to flourish in France.

“In Lens, he will find this desire to live human adventures and this authentic football to which we are attached. The locker room and the staff, Franck at his head, will put him in the best conditions to acclimatize, progress and perform.

“Introducing Elye to Bollaert made perfect sense, and like a wink, this location of the stadium where you can traditionally hear the horns of trains, comes to greet the arrival of a high-speed attacker! Welcome Elye, can’t wait to see you in our colors on French and European lawns.”

Wahi departs Montpellier following a five-year stay at the Stade de la Mosson, during which he contributed 32 goals and nine assists from 92 appearances across all competitions.