West Ham United on Thursday named former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter as its new head coach, after sacking Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday.

It is Potter's first job since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023, and he has agreed to a contract until June 2027 with the east London club.

West Ham's Lucas Paqueta (L) vies with TSC's Milan Radin during UEFA Europa League group A match between TSC Backa Topola and West Ham in Backa Topola, Serbia on Nov. 30, 2023. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua)

"I am delighted to be here," Potter was quoted as saying on West Ham's website.

"It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the club I am joining."

"That is the feeling I have with West Ham United. My conversations with the chairman and the board have been very positive and constructive," continued the coach.

West Ham is 14th in the Premier League with 23 points from 20 games, and one of Potter's first tasks will be to tighten a defense that has conceded 39 league goals.

"We are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short term and then how we want to move the club forward in the medium to long term," he said.

West Ham's next game is an FA Cup tie away to Aston Villa on Friday, followed quickly by a Premier League game at home to Fulham on January 14.