The Frenchman signed a four-year deal at the club with an option to extend the 26-year-olds stay in East London for further two years and was announced to the West Ham faithful on Saturday shortly after West Ham’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
West Ham fans have been anxiously anticipating Zouma’s arrival for some time after several “setbacks” significantly delayed his move and then almost caused the deal to completely collapse. However, the issues were eventually ironed out meaning David Moyes finally got his main defensive target.
It has been a difficult window for Moyes so far with many of the 58-year-olds targets seemingly out of West Ham’s reach, but the Scotsman is clearly pleased about his first summer arrival.
“I’m delighted to welcome Kurt to West Ham. He’s a player we have tracked for some time and we have taken great care and diligence to make the transfer happen. He was always our first choice and I am very happy that he is now our player”. – David Moyes on West Ham’s official website.
After having a trophy laden spell at Chelsea in which Zouma won two Premier League titles, a Carabao Cup and more recently the UEFA Champions League, the Frenchman seems keen to start his new adventure on the better side of London.
The Frenchman said on the clubs website: “I’m very happy and proud. My conversation with the manager went very fast. I just felt like he really wanted me to come and join the team, especially a good team that’s started the season very, very well.
With the great season that West Ham had last year, that gave the team a lot of confidence to improve this year – and I want to help the team do that.” – Kurt Zouma on signing for West Ham.
How will Zouma fit in?
The signing of a player with Zouma’s pedigree will be a crucial and welcome addition to West Ham on and off the pitch. The 26-year-old boasts some impressive defensive stats and will most likely slot straight into the Hammers back line next to Angelo Ogbonna, where Moyes will be hoping that the pair can form a formidable partnership in the coming months.
According to WhoScored, the Frenchman managed an average 0.9 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 3.8 clearances and 0.4 blocks per game for the Blues last season which if compared to Ogbonna’s stats, (0.9 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 4.1 clearances and 0.4 blocks) show that the 26-year-old will be more than capable of slotting straight into West Ham’s back line.
Its not just on the pitch where Zouma will have a great effect on the team. The Frenchman’s middle name is Happy and there’s a good reason for that. The Center back was a massive part of Chelsea’s dressing room and seems to get on with everyone, which will suit West Ham’s dressing room to a tea.
Zouma and Moyes will also be hoping that he can install that silverware winning mentality to a Hammers team that haven’t won a major trophy for over 40 years.
The signing of Zouma, although late in the window, could prove to be the first of a few new faces coming to the London Stadium which could see the Hammer’s start to turn into contenders for silverware, with a deal for CSKA Moscow midfielder Nikola Vlasic also said to be nearing completion.
Fans will be hoping that this will be the start of an exciting new era for the club with a Europa League campaign to look forward to and some big new signings who knows, maybe a trophy isn’t to far away for the Hammers?