French club, Nice have signed Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi on loan from Lorient , beating West Ham and Bournemouth to the deal.
West Ham held talks with Lorient over a 25m deal, while Bournemouth also made move, but neither club could conclude on a deal.
The 23-year-old has now joined Nice on loan until the end of the season, and the French outfit have an obligation to sign him permanently in the summer.
Confirming the news on their official website, Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivre said: ‘We?re delighted that Terem’s determination to sign for OGC Nice, combined with our own, has led to this outcome.
‘The support of our owner was also invaluable. It?s an investment that matches our ambitions.’
Sporting director Florent Ghisolfi added: ‘When it comes to the ideas that we want to implement and the identity that we want to establish, he?s the ideal striker. Terem is capable of playing with his back to goal and of running in behind. He?s a modern striker, very pacy and very powerful. He has experience, and he fights for the team.
‘He?s capable of making run after run whilst always keeping a cool head inside the box. In Ligue 1, he?s already set the standard. A new milestone awaits him at Nice, where he?ll get to play in Europe for the first time in the spring and will be one of the key men carrying the club?s lofty aims.’
Moffi has had an outstanding campaign in France, netting 12 goals in 18 league games for Lorient.