Big Sam gets a Brazilian, but who? (Video)
Approaching 29 years of age, it is quite surprising that Wellington Paulista’s name will have meant little to many English football fans before he signed for West Ham United this month.
South Americans normally play somewhere else in Europe for at least couple of years before making the switch to the Premier League, but this Brazilian has spent all but one season of his career in his homeland. The striker had a brief stint with Spanish second division side Alaves in 2006/07 before returning to Brazil to join Botafogo. However, it was only after he left for Cruzeiro that Paulista found his best form, scoring 29 goals in 54 league games prior to his loan move to east London.
Paulista joins the Hammers at the same time as Marouane Chamakh, with the Arsenal forward also on at loan Upton Park until the end of the season and Sam Allardyce will be hoping the new strikers can ease the burden on Carlton Cole and help fire West Ham back into the top half.
With Andy Carroll still injured and Modibo Maiga representing Mali at the African Cup of Nations, Wellington Paulista may just get his chance at the big time.
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