- Kurt Zouma has failed a medical ahead of his planned move to the UAE club
- The West Ham captain was set to complete his move to Shabab Al-Ahli
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Kurt Zouma’s transfer to UAE club Shabab Al-Ahli has broken down after the player failed a medical before joining the club.
The West Ham captain had been due to join the Middle Eastern side as a free agent and had travelled to Dubai for a statutory medical which all football transfers are subject to.
However, Zouma failed his medical, leaving the move in tatters and West Ham are now waiting to see if an alternative solution can be found for the centre-back.
The situation could prove a major headache for the London club who have just completed a loan deal with Jean-Clair Todibo from Ligue 1 club Nice that includes a £34m option to buy.
Zouma, 29, has been with the Hammers since 2021 after joining from Chelsea for £29.8million and has become a leader in the team that has won European titles in recent seasons.
Kurt Zouma’s transfer to UAE side Shabab Al-Ahli has broken down
The West Ham captain was set to join the Middle Eastern side as a free agent.
He has amassed 103 appearances in all competitions and was part of the West Ham side that won the Europa Conference League in 2023.
Zouma was subsequently named club captain at the start of the following season after Declan Rice joined Arsenal for £105 million.
Zouma, who has a year left on his contract, is believed to be one of the highest earners at the London Stadium.
West Ham are now waiting to see if an alternative solution can be found for the centre-back.
His departure will help boost West Ham’s wage bill after a major summer restructuring under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
The Frenchman is believed to be one of the club’s highest-earning players and a deal falling through at this stage could cause problems for any remaining business West Ham have planned to do.
The Hammers have already signed Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug, Luis Guilherme and Guido Rodriguez for a combined outlay of £117.5m in this window.
His planned departure would also end his 10-year stay in English football after originally joining Chelsea from Saint-Etienne for £12million as a 19-year-old in 2014.
