First Team Squad
Player profile and performance records.
Kurt Zouma (Defender)
Kurt Zouma
Lyon, FrancePosition: Defender
Born: 27th Oct 1994 (Lyon, France)
Signed: 28th Aug 2021 (£29,800,000)
Contract: 4 years
Previous Club: Chelsea
KUMB Awards: None.
The French international defender joined West Ham following seven highly-successful years at Chelsea during which he won the Premier League and Champions League.
Signed for ??29.8million, Zouma joined West Ham three days before the end of the 2021 summer transfer window following weeks of speculation.
vs Fiorentina
2-1: Wednesday, 7th June(Played 90 minutes)
The centre backs managed the box very well. This was a pair who would stand up well to a team that like to cross into the area, and the fact that neither Fiorentina striker played well, nor did La Viola really have chances, points to a good defensive display.
vs Leicester City
1-2: Sunday, 28th MayDid not play.
vs Leeds United
3-1: Sunday, 21st May(Played 90 minutes)
Have to hope he was taken off to protect from injury, rather than because he had sustained one. Poor mistake to be robbed of the ball like he was on half-time, and he found Bamford a problem whilst the forward was on.
vs AZ Alkmaar
1-0: Thursday, 18th May(Played 90 minutes)
The kind of understated quality that has been key to Zouma's West Ham career. Just a very good defender who is mobile, strong and dominant aerially. They didn't really look like ever conceding, and against a side who were using the ball to try and find any hint of a crack in the armour. Not one to be found.
vs AZ Alkmaar
2-1: Thursday, 11th May(Played 90 minutes)
Decisive when he needed to be, and West Ham maintained a very good defensive structure without the ball, not really ever allowing their opponents a good chance.
vs Bournemouth
4-0: Sunday, 23rd April(Played 90 minutes)
Odd moment of bother, but Zouma has been a consistent rock in recent weeks.
vs Gent
4-1: Thursday, 20th April(Played 90 minutes)
Controlled performance, could have done better with a headed chance but put in an assured defensive display.
vs Fulham
1-0: Saturday, 8th April(Played 90 minutes)
All the talk was about how important Aguerd would be, but it?EUR(TM)s getting Zouma into the team consistently that makes the defence better. The best pure defender at the club.
vs Newcastle United
1-5: Wednesday, 5th April(Played 90 minutes)
Well taken goal and generally one of the better defenders, but it wasn't much of a contest. Too easy for Joelinton on the fifth, didn't take responsibility on the first goal.
vs Southampton
1-0: Sunday, 2nd April(Played 90 minutes)
Solid, unspectacular, but disciplined. A centre back's favourite game, one where you're rarely tested and look good doing the simple things.
vs AEK Larnaca
4-0: Thursday, 16th March(Played 90 minutes)
Controlled, and in the one moment someone ran away from him, he made a big sliding tackle to take the ball. It almost looked like he made it just to challenge himself.
vs Aston Villa
1-1: Sunday, 12th March(Played 90 minutes)
The defence looks better for Zouma being back. He does all those basics you get from Ogbonna, but he's a bit better at them all, and has more to his game. Staying up may well come down to the fitness of Zouma.
vs AEK Larnaca
2-0: Thursday, 9th March(Played 90 minutes)
Full of the type of defending Zouma excels at as Larnaca found his head often.
vs Brighton & Hove Albion
0-4: Saturday, 4th March(Played 21 minutes, sub)
(Replaced Ogbonna 69) Probably good for him to get 20 minutes of life into his legs in a game that was already dead when he came on. Ogbonna seemed to have shaken off his injury by then, but it was worth the change.
vs Everton
2-0: Saturday, 21st January(Played 90 minutes)
Other than the amount of times he fell over, Zouma was brilliant. Not quite as imperious as Aguerd, but the standard of defending was vastly improved by Zouma and Aguerd returning. Things Dawson does that look last ditch are not going to happen as often with that pair, they are better on the front foot and less exposed by runners.
vs Wolves
0-1: Saturday, 14th JanuaryDid not play.
vs Leicester City
0-2: Saturday, 12th November(Played 90 minutes)
Off injured after 14 minutes. Looks like he needs a rest anyway, but he does always seem to look like that.
vs Crystal Palace
1-2: Sunday, 6th November(Played 90 minutes)
Didn't get through the same amount of defensive work as Dawson - for better or worse - but actually still looked a much better player for not needing to look so decisive. His positioning was right, he passed well, he covered and he was where he needed to be, doing what he needed to do, and with minimal fuss.
vs Manchester United
0-1: Sunday, 30th October(Played 90 minutes)
In contrast, Zouma was active in stepping out and did another really good job marking Ronaldo.
vs AFC Bournemouth
2-0: Monday, 24th October(Played 90 minutes)
Scored a goal, defended well and did his job. Just a good performance, in the right place at the right time often, made a couple good interventions to snuff out attacks, whether that was getting to the ball first or getting his body in to stop attackers passing him.
vs Liverpool
0-1: Wednesday, 19th October(Played 90 minutes)
With Kehrer one side of him and Johnson the other, pulling out a solid performance is all the more impressive. Little bit of luck on his side, and he will be furious that he was under the cross for the first goal, but a strong showing.
vs Fulham
3-1: Sunday, 9th October(Played 90 minutes)
Sloppy in a few different moments. The defending on the goal was lazy, foolish or both. When it retreated to deep defending in the box, he looked more comfortable on the basics.
vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
2-0: Saturday, 1st October(Played 90 minutes)
Quietly got through some work, a bit more than Dawson, and it feels somewhat a surprise after such an easy game to see he made eight clearances. Very secure.
vs Everton
0-1: Sunday, 18th September(Played 90 minutes)
Kehrer and Zouma were probably the two most consistent players on the pitch, matched only by Coady and Tarkowski, in that they did their jobs with little fuss as every other outfield player seemed to be hectic in every movement.
vs Chelsea
1-2: Saturday, 3rd September(Played 90 minutes)
Imperious, for the most part. Slightly too focused on Broja when Chilwell chases that ball for the equaliser, but his job of basic defending was done brilliantly. Whilst people look at a defence of Kehrer and Aguerd for ball progression, the defending comes first and Zouma is our best defender.
vs Tottenham Hotspur
1-1: Wednesday, 31st August(Played 90 minutes)
Maybe a question mark over the goal, whether he needed to try and win the ball before being backed into the box, whilst they were beaten by the one pass Kulusevski had available, but it?EUR(TM)s another harsh critique. Was otherwise very good, composed in the middle and made good decisions on when to go with Kane, and when to leave him.
vs Aston Villa
1-0: Sunday, 28th August(Played 90 minutes)
With West Ham so poor on the ball in the first half, the defence had more to do as Villa got time on the ball. That the home side created little shows we defended well. Zouma was dominant all game, especially as things opened up in the second half. A wall for the late desperate attacks as Villa chased the game.
vs Viborg FF
3-0: Thursday, 25th AugustCresswell 82) Game had pretty much died as Kurt got on to sharpen his fitness.
vs Brighton & Hove Albion
0-2: Sunday, 21st August(Played 90 minutes)
Moyes has admitted in his post-match presser that Zouma is off the pace, and boy does he look it. Kehrer was the poorer of the two, but he wasn't helped to settle by whatever this version of Zouma is. Lethargic and laboured, he looks a long way off his best.
vs Nottingham Forest
0-1: Sunday, 14th August(Played 90 minutes)
Looks cumbersome, either injured or unfit, although he can look that way when at his best. But Awoniyi unsettled him, lost him on occasions, and he doesn?EUR(TM)t seem to be a leader at the back.
vs Manchester City
0-2: Sunday, 7th August(Played 90 minutes)
Probably not his favourite day at the office, unable to really keep up when Haaland opened his legs, playing on the left side and managing a young full back through a game. Those things considered, it was an OK performance.
Servette FC
2-0: Friday, 8th JulyAs above, looked heavy on his feet and wasn't assured.
Brighton & Hove Albion
1-3: Sunday, 22nd MayAs above, looked heavy on his feet and wasn't assured.
Manchester City
2-2: Sunday, 15th MayOf the pair, Zouma made the bigger blocks and the more crucial interceptions.
Norwich City
4-0: Saturday, 7th MaySome of the sloppier moments at the back had a hint of real arrogance from Kurt, who either switched off or just assumed he wouldn't be challenged by the Norwich players.
Arsenal
1-2: Sunday, 1st MayDoesn't quite look 100% fit, but then pressed and followed his striker higher up the pitch than he usually does, and on multiple occasions.
Brentford
0-2: Sunday, 10th AprilWasn't enjoying his game before the tackle. Should have been a yellow card, but the real concern is whether he returns in time for Thursday. His form has been poor the last few games, but his poor form is better than Diop playing.
Lyon
1-1: Thursday, 7th AprilDefended well after the goal, but had he sprinted back after Dembele, Cresswell may have remained on the pitch.
Everton
2-1: Sunday, 3rd AprilThe same as Dawson. The centre backs were given a run-out without being given any sort of test.
Tottenham
1-3: Sunday, 20th MarchAn own goal, a deflection on another then an awful decision on the third. His worst game since Kidderminster.
Seville
2-0: Thursday, 17th MarchHe has been better on the ball, but took command at the back as the game went later and suddenly Sevilla decided they needed to attack consistently. Still, there were a couple of lapses where strikers drifted off his shoulder and he was a little lost.
Aston Villa
2-1: Sunday, 13th MarchThe better defender of the two. Not making play from the back like Frank Dawsonbauer, but he’s clearly the best and most assured player in that defence.
Seville
0-1: Thursday, 10th MarchThe better of the two centre backs, his quality much more evident. Grew into it after the team's shaky start, looked assured with the ball and then made a huge challenge to stop what looked a goal.
Liverpool
0-1: Saturday, 5th MarchLucky not to be punished twice early on when Salah got away from him in defence. Settled into it after and defended comfortably.
Southampton
1-3: Wednesday, 2nd MarchThe team conceded three, but actually defended well. Zouma was excellent again, some big tackles to recover the odd worrying situation.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1-0: Sunday, 27th FebruarySince the controversy, he’s been impeccable on the pitch. In every challenge, he came out looking completely assured and in control of play.
Newcastle United
1-1: Saturday, 19th FebruaryPositioning was perfect, just calmly dealing with crosses and making defensive interventions that look very easy because he’s in the right place and making the right decisions.
Watford
1-0: Tuesday, 8th FebruaryFor better or worse, Zouma played very well. Whether he should have had that opportunity is down to your own opinion.
Kidderminster Harriers
2-1: Saturday, 5th FebruaryShaky, but he improved for Dawson's presence. Have to hope he was sent back on because they knew it wasn't a bad injury, otherwise we lose our best centre back and are left with Dawson and Diop again.
Manchester United
0-1: Saturday, 22nd JanuaryWhen called upon, Zouma was note perfect. Eased his way back in and the quality is so clear having watched Diop and Dawson for a month.
Chelsea
3-2: Saturday, 4th DecemberGets injured making a great defensive tackle. Made eight clearances, just showing he was perfectly placed in that central role of the three centre backs.
Brighton & Hove Albion
1-1: Wednesday, 1st DecemberShaky on the press, and it is evident he is lesser when playing on the left. Didn't have the important error of Dawson but wasn't good either.
Manchester City
1-2: Saturday, 27th NovemberHe isn't as comfortable over on the left but this was better than Wolves. City did have their chances and Fabianski saved this being much worse, even in a good overall defensive display from the side.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
0-1: Saturday, 20th NovemberThe defence had no grip of the game, the runners easily making inroads and Jimenez bossing both centre backs. It isn't unreasonable to think that Ogbonna takes a grip of things back there and manages the game on the field, but neither centre back could do it here.
Liverpool
3-2: Saturday, 6th NovemberIt’s a compliment to the midfield that the centre backs were mainly tested in the air. Zouma was good, playing well on both sides after Ogbonna’s injury, and then popped up with the crucial third goal.
Aston Villa
4-1: Sunday, 31st OctoberSolid in the air and covered round well, both defenders would be disappointed with Watkins having the space for the goal. Battled well and dealt with the pressure when Villa had their backs up. Didn’t make the wild and reckless clearances that Ogbonna did.
Tottenham Hotspur
1-0: Sunday, 24th OctoberZouma and Ogbonna played well but without being particularly tested. Tottenham dithered without intent, and then were often stopped by Rice and Soucek in front of the defence. Imperious as a pair in the air, Zouma really seemed to dominate late on.
Everton
1-0: Sunday, 17th OctoberThe busier of the two centre backs defensively, that late block saved the day. Handled Rondon well.
Brentford
1-2: Sunday, 3rd OctoberLacked composure throughout. The centre backs were poor, both rash in challenges and made crucial errors.
Leeds United
2-1: Saturday, 25th SeptemberHis defending was assured and he does just look a class act at the back. Took command of the ball and dragged his side forward on a few occasions. It came back to bite him on the first goal, but it was necessary and he cannot be blamed for what happened behind him.
Manchester United
1-0: Wednesday, 22nd SeptemberDid not play.
Manchester United
1-2: Sunday, 19th SeptemberOutshone Ogbonna and looked completely settled within the team in his play and as a leader. Two fantastic last-ditch challenges to stop what seemed like certain Ronaldo goals, he was strong in the air, on the ground, defending in his box and stepping up to make challenges too. A very impressive start.
Dinamo Zagreb
2-0: Thursday, 16th SeptemberLooked in complete control at all times and solid as a rock. It’s usually attacking signings that get the support excited, but Zouma looks a fantastic and assured signing.
Southampton
0-0: Saturday, 11th SeptemberDid not play.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.
Kurt Zouma did not play for West Ham during this season.