Livorno president Aldo Spinelli has announced Alessandro Diamanti is set to sign for West Ham United.

Spinelli said: "It's practically a done deal.

"It was right to give the player the possibility to test himself in a different environment.

"After several years at Livorno, he deserves the chance to take a step forward in his career."

Diamanti joined Livorno in the summer of 2007 and is under contract with the Tuscan outfit for a further four years.

The player said yesterday that a transfer to Upton Park would "change my life and make me take a leap in quality".