First Team Squad
Player profile and performance records.
Nayef Aguerd (Defender)
Nayef Aguerd
Kenitra, MoroccoPosition: Defender
Born: 30th Mar 1996 (Kenitra, Morocco)
Signed: 20th Jun 2022 (£30,000,000)
Contract: 5 years
Previous Club: Rennes
KUMB Awards: None.
The Moroccan international joined West Ham following two highly-successful years at Rennes in France where he established himself as one of the most productive central defenders in Europe.
Signed for £30million (including bonuses), Nayef became David Moyes' first capture of the 2022 summer transfer window, signing a five-year contract with the club.
Aguerd began his footballing career at the Mohammed VI Football Academy before moving to FUS Rabat in 2014. After four seasons there he made the move to Europe, joining French Ligue 1 outfit Dijon for whom he made his professional debut in a 4-0 win over Nice - marking his debut with his first of four goals for the club.
In August 2020, Aguerd signed a contract with Ligue 1 team Rennes for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of €5million.
vs Luton Town
2-1: Friday, 1st September(Played 90 minutes)
Not completely comfortable, but without the errors that have come when he's up against it. Emerson, Aguerd and Zouma were all too relaxed for the Luton goal, not reacting to the presence of an extra man in centre back Andersen.
vs Bournemouth
1-1: Saturday, 12th August(Played 90 minutes)
Not a great start to the season for the MNoroccan international, who seemed out of sorts.
vs Fiorentina
2-1: Wednesday, 7th June(Played 90 minutes)
Much the same as Zouma, although Aguerd made a couple big challenges that stand out.
vs Leicester City
1-2: Sunday, 28th May(Played 90 minutes)
Doesn't take charge and dominate the defence when it is clear it needs to be him to do it. That may come with time, and West Ham have not seen the best of him yet. A full pre-season and more time at the heart of this defence will develop his leadership further.
vs AZ Alkmaar
1-0: Thursday, 18th May(Played 90 minutes)
Much the same. The one moment the pair were really, really tested, the Moroccan showed his class. It was just enough, and just enough is all you need when you're defending a quite desperate situation in your own penalty area. It's hard to know if Pavlidis is any good or not, because Aguerd and Zouma contained him. Should have scored, but also gets some credit for a big run forward and some decent passes.
vs Brentford
0-2: Sunday, 14th May(Played 90 minutes)
Has a worrying mistake in him in nearly every game. He's a good passer, and you begin to wonder whether having a midfield that struggled with the ball is making it harder for him.
vs AZ Alkmaar
2-1: Thursday, 11th May(Played 90 minutes)
His recovery pace was very useful, but what was important was the confidence and command he showed on the ball. A few runs forward, controlled passing, and a performance with real leadership. Lost the ball a few times heading down long balls, but AZ had been smart in triggering their midfield to respond.
vs Manchester United
1-0: Sunday, 7th May(Played 90 minutes)
World class effort from the Moroccan, who had one of those games where everything went according to plan. While he still has the capacity to make a ricket, there was little evidence of any today. One 60-yard cross-field pass that led to a chance for Michail Antonio early doors was simply sumptuous.
vs Crystal Palace
3-4: Saturday, 29th April(Played 90 minutes)
Not a great performance, rescued somewhat by the goal, and the couple of occasions where his pace saved the back four.
vs Liverpool
1-2: Wednesday, 26th April(Played 90 minutes)
His pace did a lot to limit Salah?EUR(TM)s threat when moving inside and getting away from Cresswell. Important recovery runs, and something that has been missing from West Ham?EUR(TM)s defence for a good few seasons.
vs Bournemouth
4-0: Sunday, 23rd April(Played 90 minutes)
Less assured, but a little leeway should be given to the defender. It might be late in the season, but he's playing catch up in his time adapting to the Premier League.
vs Gent
4-1: Thursday, 20th April(Played 90 minutes)
His pace proved useful against Orban, whilst it's nice to see us a little calmer on the ball when under pressure as him and Rice are not prone to panic in possession.
vs Fulham
1-0: Saturday, 8th AprilDid not play.
vs Newcastle United
1-5: Wednesday, 5th April(Played 90 minutes)
Also gave Wilson as much space as he wanted on the first, then gave the game away for the third.
vs Southampton
1-0: Sunday, 2nd April(Played 90 minutes)
The header was brilliantly taken, and it was nice to see the threat he had in France come to the fore here. He handled Walcott with ease, too.
vs AEK Larnaca
4-0: Thursday, 16th MarchDid not play.
vs Aston Villa
1-1: Sunday, 12th March(Played 90 minutes)
Could have done better on Watkins for the goal, but sometimes a perfect cross finds a run and a defender has little chance. The defence generally marshalled the Villa front line well, with Bailey and Buendia struggling to have any influence and Watkins mostly quiet. His passing was very good.
vs AEK Larnaca
2-0: Thursday, 9th March(Played 90 minutes)
Another who was very much in control of his game and made important interventions when required.
vs Brighton & Hove Albion
0-4: Saturday, 4th March(Played 90 minutes)
Didn't look comfortable, although the protection from midfield was lacking. Just too easily moved around by Brighton's attacking players, Ferguson doing very well to just link as a lone striker.
vs Manchester United
1-3: Wednesday, 1st March(Played 90 minutes)
For all his usual composure, he lost his cool as things went against him and looked less and less sure of himself. The header is poor, regardless of whether Areola should be clearing out, and then he just got worse. Looks a bit uncomfortable on the right of the defence when the pressure is on.
vs Nottingham Forest
4-0: Saturday, 25th February(Played 90 minutes)
Comfortable without excelling. A solid pairing with Ogbonna, but one that will have harder tests, especially as Wood's movement isn't great. Strong and decisive in the air.
vs Tottenham Hotspur
0-2: Sunday, 19th February(Played 90 minutes)
A few sloppy moments on the ball, a bit naive in how eager he was to close the space to Davies.
vs Chelsea
1-1: Saturday, 11th February(Played 90 minutes)
Not quite as impressive today, possibly not quite suited to the work getting dragged a little wider and dealing with the electric feet of the likes of Madueke. But his loss will be felt if he misses any game time.
vs Newcastle United
1-1: Saturday, 4th February(Played 90 minutes)
Those who have talked about the importance of his absence in the first half of the season have been justified. He has been immense since coming back into the team and today was a pinnacle, so far. The big challenge on Wilson stands out, but it's the work he does covering balls down the channel, covering behind Ogbonna and Emerson stops a lot of things that could build to more.
vs Derby County
2-0: Monday, 30th January(Played 90 minutes)
Wasn't much better than the other two centre backs, but just uses his pace to cover things and makes Emerson and Ogbonna much better.
vs Everton
2-0: Saturday, 21st January(Played 90 minutes)
The boy is an absolute thoroughbred of a defender. The best player on the pitch, he made up for any deficiencies in Emerson?EUR(TM)s defensive game, had pace to cover the rest of his defence, played progressive passes into midfield or beyond, and still flies into the air for booming headers. His fitness will make (or break) this season.
vs Wolves
0-1: Saturday, 14th January(Played 90 minutes)
Covered well around the defence, with one clear example where he just galloped over from across the pitch to chase a ball instead of leaving the closer Ogbonna to do it.
vs Brentford
1-0: Saturday, 7th January(Played 90 minutes)
There is a very clear level of composure about him on the ball that makes him stand out in a West Ham team that lacks them in far too many areas of the pitch. Adds some classic centre back action into it, winning big headers and sliding tackles. A modern-Moyes defender.
vs Leeds United
2-2: Wednesday, 4th January(Played 90 minutes)
His passing was not at the level he aspires to, but he was solid defensively and spared the blushes of Dawson and Kehrer. Considering he had two erratic performers beside him, it made it all the more impressive. A good start.
vs Leicester City
0-2: Saturday, 12th November(Played 76 minutes, sub)
(Replaced Zouma 14) Passed well, and you can tell he?EUR(TM)s a step or 10 above Dawson and Zouma on the ball. Looked a little short of sharpness, which is to be expected, and looked to be tiring when Vardy came on and ran around like an energy drink.
vs FCSB
3-0: Thursday, 3rd November(Played 90 minutes)
It just looks too easy for him. Made great passes, cleaned up for others when they made errors and defending brilliantly.
vs Silkeborg
1-0: Thursday, 27th October(Played 90 minutes)
It?EUR(TM)s tempting to score him highly for such an impressive debut, but he didn?EUR(TM)t need to be very good. It was the potential that you envisioned in watching him that excited so much. The grace, the passing, those diagonals, that little step of pace for a centre back.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nayef Aguerd did not play for West Ham during this season.