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Premier League football club West Ham United have signed their first eSports player, Sean “Dragonn” Allen.
Allen is a professional FIFA player, and considered to be one of the top competitors in the world. He came second at the 2016 FIFA interactive World Cup, where he narrowly lost to Mohamad Al-Bachaon on away goals in devastating fashion. He has also qualified for every ranking FIFA eSports event this year.
The signing makes West Ham the first football club in the UK to enter eSports, following the likes of VFL Wolfsburg and Be?ikta? who have already signed FIFA players. The club has given Allen his own squad number, 50, and presented him with his club kit at the Upton Park stadium earlier in the week.
Allen’s first appearance for the club was at the Gfinity Play Like a Legend Grand Finals where he lost out to Spencer ‘HugeGorilla’ Ealing in the quarterfinals earlier today.
“I am delighted to be joining West Ham United as their official e-sports player,” said Allen. “This is a massive move forward for me. I have been playing competitive FIFA for a very long time and this is the biggest thing ever to happen to me. West Ham have had an astonishing season in the Premier League with Europe looking very likely for next season. I will be doing my very best in FIFA tournaments all around the world to emulate their success. After finishing second in the recent FIFA interactive World Cup, I plan to keep moving forward and, hopefully, with West Ham’s help and support I will be doing exactly that!”
“This is a big move for West Ham United,” said club manager Slaven Bilic. “I have heard that Sean is a big player in the e-sports arena so I am delighted that we have managed to secure his services. I hope he can now go on to represent the club with pride across the globe – he will certainly have the support of all the lads whenever he dons the claret and blue.”
