West Ham co-chairman confirms Ayew needs surgery, will miss 4 months

West Ham United co-chairman David Gold confirmed Thursday that forward Andre Ayew requires thigh surgery and will be sidelined for four months after picking up an injury in his club debut against Chelsea earlier in the week.

The 26-year-old Ghanaian cost West Ham a club-record £20.5-million contract on a three-year term, but only mustered 35 minutes of play at Stamford Bridge in an eventual 2-1 loss against the Blues before the injury.

The club's head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke said afterward Ayew would be out for a "significant rehabilitation period."

Ayew's injury puts a damper on manager Slaven Bilic's efforts to field a team worthy of its new Olympic Stadium home, and it is not yet known if the Croatian boss will look for further reinforcements in the summer transfer window.

Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia, and new loanee Jonathan Calleri provide other options up top in Ayew's absence.