West Ham United have completed the signing of striker Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente.

Pablo, 22, arrives for a fee in the region of €20million (£17.4m, $23.4m).

The Athletic reported in the Transfer DealSheet in December that a forward was one of Nuno Espirito Santo’s priorities in January.

Pablo, 22, has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at West Ham, with the option of a further year, and becomes Nuno’s first signing following his appointment in September.

“I am very happy,” Pablo said in a press release. “I will give my all for this club, leaving everything on the pitch, all my effort, all my dedication.

“The fans really like players who fight for the badge, and I can promise that I will leave every last drop of sweat on the pitch for this club.

“I want to send a strong message that I have come to prove my worth. I know I am a young player, but I know that at this club you have to give your all, and we have to give our best for the club and for our team-mates.”

Pablo has made 12 appearances in the Portuguese top-flight this season following a summer move from Famalicao. The Brazilian has registered nine goals and one assist in that time, improving his output of five goals from the season before.

The arrival of Pablo comes after the departure of fellow striker Niclas Fullkrug on a loan deal to AC Milan was also confirmed on Friday. Milan hold the option of making Fullkrug’s move permanent in the summer.

Before the winter transfer window, head coach Nuno said he needed to “rebalance” his squad. It marks the first window of his tenure, having taken over from Graham Potter in September.

West Ham are 18th in the Premier League, four points adrift of safety. They return to action against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

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‘Pablo signing ticks important box for Nuno’

It is no surprise West Ham acted quick to make Pablo Felipe their first signing of the January transfer window. The club tend to leave their business late but have desperately opted for a new approach given their precarious league position.

With Niclas Fullkrug joining AC Milan on loan and Callum Wilson not viewed as a long-term option by Nuno, Felipe’s arrival as a promising young forward ticks an important box for the head coach.

West Ham were short of attacking options with Wilson, club captain Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville the recognised attackers. Felipe joins the east London side full of confidence, following a breakout season at Gil Vicente.

With upcoming league games against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, Nuno will hope the forward reproduces his encouraging displays in a claret and blue jersey.