West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma is back in the UK after complications with his medical ahead of a move to Shabab Al-Ahli, according to UAE Kick.
UAE Kick posted on X (11 August) to report that while Zouma did complete his medical with the Emirati side, contract renegotiations occurred due to the Frenchman’s previous injury history.
Zouma’s previous injury appearing during the medical examinations led to certain aspects of his contract being altered, but Zouma did not sign the new terms and has returned to the UK.
Shabab Al-Ahli had been the leading club in the race to sign the out-of-favour centre-back [ Santi Aouna, 6 August], but with the deal now in jeopardy, Zouma remains a Hammers player for the time being.
Kurt Zouma move collapsing could hamper West Ham transfer plans
While Zouma’s exit from the London Stadium is by no means dead in the water, his injury history coming to a head in his Shabab Al-Ahli medical suggests that moving him on will not be the easiest of tasks.
Despite having captained the Irons last season, Zouma is quite clearly not in the plans of Julen Lopetegui for the new season and thus was given the green light to complete a transfer away.
That’s been reinforced by the incomings brought to East London by Lopetegui this summer, namely Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, who is on a loan-to-buy deal from OGC Nice
However, with several other defenders also linked to operate as back-up to the Spaniard’s two headline signings, collecting fees for the likes of Zouma and Nayef Aguerd is proving to be increasingly difficult .All parties will be hoping that Zouma’s medical issues can be resolved for him to complete a transfer to the UAE or elsewhere, but for the moment, the 29-year-old’s immediate future remains in East London.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers’ latest transfer deal isn’t quite what it appears to be with a big-money fee lined up in 2025.