5th December 2025 Daniel Luker (@danielluker_)
By Louis Nixon
Soungoutou Magassa had an absolute World-class performance for West Ham against Manchester United as his pivotal goal rescued the Hammers a point.
To use the word rescue can come across as harsh seeing as many believe that the Hammers were in fact the better side, but seeing as chance after chance wouldn’t go in, for the Frenchman to break the deadlock it felt like a point well earned and it would’ve been heartbreaking to walk away empty handed.
A performance of a lifetime, West Ham fans haven’t quite seen a performance as such in a very long time, a piece of individual masterclass from a player and he was absolutely everywhere, he covered every grain of the pitch and would stand up from challenges wearing the grass he’d pick up from a tackle. Across 90 minutes, he made 41 passes, 71 touches and a bewildering 18 defensive contributions, which involved 8 recoveries!
He now finds himself amongst one of the highest defensive contributions from an individual throughout a single match in the League.
Garry Neville commented on Songatou Magassa after winning the Player Of The Match award: “Magassa has been all action – all around the pitch. Plenty of tackles. He’s been a destroyer out there and he’s gone and got a goal. He rescued West Ham a vital point.”
His goal earned West Ham their first ever comeback against Manchester United at Old Trafford from a loosing position, what a way to make your mark at your new home!
Oh and not to mention, as well as the well placed finish, a phenomenal celebration full of passion to match, exactly what all Football fans dream of happening.
It’s certainly evident to see why Nuno was so eager to have the young Frenchman at Nottingham Forest, but fortunately, he’s ended up still being able to use him, just at the mighty Hammers and now has finally laid his mark in a glued midfield with Fernandes and Potts.
The trio of the three younger, who average an age of 21.7, have to be the midfield going forward and Magassa has now proved beyond belief that he has to be involved within a Matchday squad on a regular basis.
There’s still a long way to go, but going off that performance, we have a seriously special player on our hands and one who could become a staple in the Hammers’ midfield.