Only West Ham United supporters with the longest of memories, and the fiercest commitment to following their beloved club at every level and throughout each competition, will have remembered the name Soungoutou Magassa.
During a summer in which the Hammers have found themselves at the centre of a few drawn-out transfer sagas, things have moved comparatively quickly over the course of the last week.
While Eintracht Frankfurt attempted a late hijack on Wednesday, West Ham have agreed terms with Monaco on an initial £14 million deal for the France Under-21 international.
Magassa, per Foot Mercato, has now undergone medical tests ahead of signing a six-year contract at the London Stadium.
Now, some were surprised to learn that the highly-rated Monaco academy graduate had seemingly chosen West Ham United over a Nottingham Forest side who – that fiery dispute between Nuno Espirito Santo and Evangelos Marinakis aside – have Europa League football to look forward to this season.
But perhaps a hint can be found in an interview Magassa gave to Get France Football News back in October 2023.
West Ham United target and Monaco midfielder Soungoutou Magassa playing for France's U21s
Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Soungoutou Magassa played against West Ham for Monaco’s kids in 2023
Eight months earlier, Magassa was part of the Monaco side who beat Mark Robson’s West Ham youngsters 2-1 at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, bringing an end to their hosts’ Premier League International Cup campaign.
While he has since established himself as one of France’s brightest midfield talents – Magassa has defensive qualities in common with Moises Caicedo while also ranking alongside Adam Wharton and co for through balls – he played at centre-half on that February 2023 afternoon in East London.
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🇪🇺 (U21) Midfielders with the most through passes per 90 in the Top 5 Leagues
🏴 1.34 — Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace, 21)
🏴 1.13 — Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, 21)
🇦🇷 0.87 — Nico Paz (Como, 20)
🇫🇷 0.84 — Soungoutou Magassa (Monaco, 21)
🇪🇸 0.78 — Stefan Bajcetic (Las Palmas,… pic.twitter.com/BsEa0RF9xz
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And, speaking later that year, Magassa would look back on a hard-fought away win against such ‘prestigious’ opposition having taught him vital lessons on his journey towards the first-team picture.
“We played prestigious matches, such as the one against Manchester United at Old Trafford, like against Arsenal, West Ham United, and Bayern Munich as well,” Magassa said. “They were really high-quality matches.
“When you play these kinds of matches, it is easier to adapt to the professional world.”
Of the eleven Monaco starters that day, Magassa is the one who has gone on to make the greatest strides. On the other side, Freddie Potts is making his own steps towards establishing himself in the senior game.
Captain Jarrod Bowen is convinced Potts will announce himself in claret and blue over the coming months, even if opportunities remain frustratingly few and far between under Graham Potter. Dan Chesters, who opened the scoring against Magassa and Monaco inside the first minute, is now playing fourth-tier football with Salford.
Michael Forbes and Kamarai Swyer are at Northampton under Kevin Nolan, while Luizao left West Ham this month when his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
Freddie Potts for West Ham United vs Everton in the Premier League Summer Series in the USA
Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Magassa is likely to be Edson Alvarez’s West Ham replacement
That youth-team clash between West Ham and Monaco, meanwhile, provided a few glimpses of the talent which would earn Magassa a potential return to the English capital two years on.
The Paris Olympic silver medalist made one of his trademark crash-and-bang interceptions seven minutes in, winning the ball in West Ham’s half before one of his Monaco teammates saw a shot tipped over by now-Oxford goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge.
By his own admission, Magassa sees himself as a number six rather than a centre-half though.
Hammers News can confirm West Ham view the Monaco man as Edson Alvarez’s successor in the heart of the engine room.
“I like this position because you run more, you see more of the ball, but I try to bring as much as possible as a defender,” he said in that same 2023 interview. “I have a lot of fun in midfield and I like the position a lot.
“I don’t really limit myself and I don’t set myself any specific objectives. I think if I continue to work, if I stay disciplined, applied and I listen to advice and remain humble, there is no reason why I can’t reach the highest level.
“I think everything comes with work. You also need to avoid injuries and have good people around you, which I do. If you have all that, there is no reason not to be a great player and play in the biggest matches.”