GOALKEEPER Alphonse Areola has admitted that he "wanted to do everything" in order to stay at West Ham.

The French goalkeeper spent last season on loan at the London Stadium and after impressing as the club's cup goalkeeper, he earned a permanent move to the Hammers, which was confirmed on Monday.

Areola signed a five-year deal with an option for a further year with West Ham, which will see the 29-year-old likely become the club's first choice goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.

The former PSG and Real Madrid goalkeeper, however, has said that the love he received from the fans during last season was a main attraction to him wanting to continue his stay in the Premier League.

He told the club website: “The main thing is that I felt the love of the supporters last season. Something for me that is really important is to feel that I’m loved. I know that I have to do my job and to do everything to make them happy. Obviously, the team, my teammates, the staff and Xavi Valero as well. The vibe of last season was great, so I just wanted to do everything to stay here.

“I feel comfortable, I feel like when I'm signing in a club, I want to feel that it’s like my second family. Obviously, we're here every day and we are sharing lots of times together, so I have to feel comfortable with everyone and feel them comfortable with me as well, so I just feel comfortable here.

“I wasn’t supposed to come to London this early in my life! I was planning to come here after my career, but I had the opportunity to come here to just enjoy our lives here and to have a feeling about the Premier League as well. I played in Ligue 1 and La Liga and I feel that this is another atmosphere.

“It’s two seasons now that will compete in European games and this shows that the Club is growing and we have to keep pushing and keep doing our job to keep the Club as high as we can.”

In the coming season, Areola and his teammates will be playing in front of 62,500 fans at the London Stadium after it was confirmed that the club would be able to expand the capacity of the ground.

Areola said: “It’s a big occasion and hopefully a big season for them. We’re here for that, to make them happy, and that’s it, so let’s do the job and make them happy.

“It’s going to be exciting and when it’s busy it’s always good as it means that you have lots of games and big competitions, so it’s better that we’ll be busy this season.”