West Ham co-owner David Sullivan confirms capture of Leeds defender Sam Byram

West Ham United have clinched the signing of defender Sam Byram from Leeds United after beating Everton to the 22-year-old, according to co-owner David Sullivan. Byram was presented with offers from the Premier League pair this week before deciding on a move to Upton Park.

The Hammers had initially been planning to sign Byram upon the expiration of his contract with The Whites at the end of the season for a cut price, but their hand was forced by Roberto Martinez's side who made a late move for the Essex-born right-back.

Leeds owner Massimo Cellino confirmed on 18 January that Byram had chosen to move to West Ham, despite the last-gasp offer from Goodison Park. Sullivan has therefore broken the club's silence over the move and says the player has agreed personal terms of a move.

"We were originally going to do nothing," he told Sky Sports. "Good clubs spend their money in the summer and we really haven't got any money to spend. We had hoped to sign Sam Byram in the summer when he was out of contract at Leeds but in the last few days he looked like he was going to Everton – so we realised it was now or never so we've had to pitch in and try and sign him.

"Hopefully that will go through in the next 24 hours, everything is in agreement with him and the club. I would not normally say this but the Leeds chairman has made it public and I think it is wrong to mention what you're doing until it is actually done.

"But if they're happy for it to be public, we're happy for it to be public. We've agreed terms with Leeds, we've agreed terms with the player and hopefully that will go through."

With Andy Carroll having joined the West Ham treatment table following his hamstring injury suffered against Bournemouth, Sullivan has confirmed the club are actively seeking to add to their forward line. The co-owner says the club are hoping to bring a player in on loan from overseas, with a view to a permanent move but refused to reveal his identity.

"We are looking long-term for a 20-goals-a-season," he explained. "There is a possibility that a striker will come in on loan in the next seven days with the option to buy him. He is an overseas striker who has played in higher leagues. It may not happy but it is a possibility, and if all of our strikers are fit we've probably got too many."