WEST HAM yesterday broke two records. First, their own transfer record by completing the £2.4 million signing of Florin Raducioiu from Espanyol. Second, they acquired the first British player on a free transfer under the Bosman rules in the form of Michael Hughes the Northern Ireland winger who has been playing for Strasbourg for the last 18 months.

Their third signing is a "genuine" free transfer - Mark Bowen, 33, was released by Norwich because of their financial problems.

Raducioiu, who scored Romania's only goal in Euro 96 said: "I am here to score goals and to help West Ham finish as high as possible in the league."