After his brief spell in Romania shuddered to a halt after just four appearances, what next for former West Ham United and CFR Cluj defender Kurt Zouma?
Could his career be all-but over, even before he turns 32?
Have the injuries taken their toll? Is there any way back from a man who lifted the Europa Conference League trophy with West Ham United as recently as 2023?
What would you say if you heard West Ham could RE-SIGN Kurt Zouma? 🇫🇷
Kurt Zouma plays during the round 10 of Romania Superliga match between CFR 1907 Cluj and UTA Arad at Dr Constantin Radulescu stadium in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, on September 21, 2025.
The message out of Romania – Zouma played only four times for CFR Cluj and saw his eye-watering £45,000-a-week contract terminated in January – is that problems in both of his knees mean that the eleven-time France international may struggle to bounce back.
Iuliu Muresan, Cluj’s president, felt that it would be ‘hard for [Zouma] to play football at this level anymore’. Emil Gradinescu of Prima Sport 1 pulled even fewer punches when he claimed that the 2021 Champions League winner ‘can barely walk’ these days, let alone run, tackle and play like he used to.
It appears that Shandong Taishan, the Chinese Super League outfit who considered offering Kurt Zouma a fresh start in East Asia, have come to a similar conclusion.
China move collapses for former West Ham United captain Kurt Zouma
Kurt Zouma during ACF Fiorentina v West Ham United FC - UEFA Europa Conference League Final 2022/23
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Foot Mercato reported at the beginning of February that Zouma had agreed a one-year deal with Shandong Taishan. That was before ‘The Team of Mount Tai’ got cold feet.
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According to Chinese reporter Sun Dexin, via Sohu, the transfer has now ‘fallen through’.
Dexin believes that Shandong Taishan did not fully appreciate the extent of Zouma’s fitness problems. When they received his medical report – allegedly claiming he was ‘unable to play’ – they pulled out pretty sharpish.
So, what next? Rumours of a return to West Ham were scotched recently. Hammers News were told by a Lee Ryder of The Chronicle also insisted that Newcastle had no plans to sign the ex-Chelsea and Everton powerhouse despite some claims suggesting the opposite.
An understandable stance, considering how Zouma’s most recent stint rapidly unravelled.
“We say goodbye peacefully, amicably. I respect him a lot and we had a good relationship, but we have to restrict the budget,” Cluj owner Ioan Varga told Digi Sport after the Romanian giants’ brief dalliance with a number of big-name veterans – including ex-Newcastle and Leicester striker Islam Slimani – ended as quickly as it began.
“We also have the financial fair play monitoring from UEFA, and it is harder to sustain high salaries if you have not qualified for the European cups.”
“Zouma is injured. He’s very positive, a good guy, but we need fit players who want it,” Muresan added.
“He wants to play, he has quality character, he has an impressive physique, but he has some problems with both knees. It’s hard for him to play football at this level anymore.”
Speaking of French centre-backs, Nuno has a dilemma looming following Axel Disasi’s impressive start to life on loan from Chelsea. Jean-Clair Todibo will be back from suspension when the Hammers face Bournemouth a week from now.
Todibo’s return gives Nuno a problem…
Jean Clair Todibo of West Ham United passes the ball during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium in Stratford, on January 6, 2026. Axel Disasi of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Burnley and West Ham United at Turf Moor on February 07, 2026 in Burnley, England.
Considering how imperious Disasi has been alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos, there is no guarantee that Todibo walks straight back into the XI.
“I think he did really well, particularly for someone who had been with us for less than a week,” Nuno said after Disasi helped keep a clean sheet in the 2-0 win at Burnley; his first Premier League outing in nearly a year.
“He was very aware of the needs of the team, and I think he integrated really well in terms of how he played, and the bonds he has on the pitch.
“The players have to have knowledge, and realise the movements, because one movement dictates the other. I think he did really well, and I hope he continues.”
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