West Ham Insider: Real reason for Kurt Zouma exit revealed

West Ham sold Kurt Zouma in the summer as a result of growing concerns about a “serious” knee injury, according to their former scout.

Mick Brown, who worked as a senior scout at the London Stadium until leaving alongside David Moyes in June, and remains very well-connected there, exclusively told Football Insider that there were concerns the defender’s career could be cut short.

Zouma, 30, was part of an overhaul of the Hammers’ defence in the summer following the arrival of Julen Lopetegui which saw several players leave the club.

Alongside the Frenchman, Nayef Aguerd, Angelo Ogbonna and Ben Johnson all made way for the arrivals of Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

However, the decision to let Zouma, who was captain at the time, leave the club was taken due to concerns about his age and injury history.

He has suffered with knee problems throughout his career, having had surgery on it over a decade ago while at Saint Etienne, but those issues emerged again during his time in East London.

Brown explained that some at the club believed another injury to the same area could spell an early end to his career, with the demands of Premier League football too much at this stage.

West Ham feared Kurt Zouma would suffer ‘career-ending’ blow

Zouma joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Orobah on loan in the summer, with his West Ham contract set to expire in the summer of 2025.

Brown, who has worked closely with players at the top level including for over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that the Hammers decided it was in the best interests of the player and the club to move on.

“West Ham wanted to make major changes to their defence in the summer,” he told Football Insider.

“They were always a bit vulnerable at centre-back, so it was a position they always planned to address.

“But Zouma had a serious knee problem and there was a feeling that he was one trip or twist away from suffering a career-ending injury.

“Eventually, they decided it was in everybody’s best interest to move him on.

“The pace and pressure of the Premier League was starting to prove a bit too much for him, I feel.

“So they let him go as part of the overhaul when Lopetegui came in – and that was headed by Tim Stiedten, I’m led to believe.”

In other news, West Ham plan to sign a new defender in January.

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The post West Ham Insider: Real reason for Kurt Zouma exit revealed appeared first on Football Insider.