Michail Antonio and Kurt Zouma are two of West Ham’s biggest heroes of recent years and now they have sealed moves to new clubs on the same day.
When West Ham were struggling badly heading into the winter transfer window, there were more than a few fans who suggested re-signing Kurt Zouma and Michail Antonio.
With a lack of options up front and in central defence, supporters felt the Hammers could do a lot worse than bringing back Antonio and Zouma as extra bodies.
It’s unlikely West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo ever truly considered either as options as he brought in striker duo Pablo and Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos and Zouma’s compatriot Axel Disasi.
Zouma and Antonio seal moves to Dubai and Qatar
After much speculation, though, Antonio and Zouma have both finally found new clubs – on same day no less.
After a spell in Qatar with Al-Orobah, Zouma signed a two-year deal with Romanian side CFR Cluj at the start of this season.
Finish this sentence: Axel Disasi is West Ham’s BEST DEFENDER since…
West Ham United's Axel Disasi during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on February 10, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at City Ground on February 22, 2026 in Nottingham, England.
But the contract was terminated last month and Zouma was heavily linked with moves to China and even – rather shockingly – Newcastle.
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Now Zouma has signed with Dubai-based UAE side Al-Wasl until the end of the season.
It is claimed the former Hammers star, who formed formidable partnerships with Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna during his time in east London, snubbed Chinese clubs to join Al-Wasl.
Kurt Zouma and Michail Antonio celebrate together during their time at West Ham
Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images
The Emirati club’s director of sport, Zouma’s fellow former France defender Eric Abidal, is said to have been key to the move.
🚨🟡🇫🇷 #UAE |
🔐 Kurt Zouma s'est engagé avec Al-Wasl jusqu'à la fin de saison
✍️ Le défenseur central français a signé son contrat avec le club émirati
❗️Malgré l'intérêt de clubs chinois, Zouma a préféré rejoindre Al-Wasl
➡️ Eric Abidal, le DS d'Al-Wasl, a joué un rôle… pic.twitter.com/2Jmqe08wG3
— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) February 26, 2026
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Antonio, West Ham’s record Premier League goalscorer – for the time-being at least – will be joining his former Hammers teammate Zouma in the Middle East it seems.
The football world was rocked when Antonio broke his legs in a terrible car crash at Epping Forest.
The then Hammers star has since admitted he is lucky to be alive.
Antonio battled back to return to West Ham training and play for Jamaica last summer.
But he turned down a short-term Hammers deal on reduced pay, feeling he could get a better contract elsewhere.
Michail Antonio and Kurt Zouma celebrate a West Ham goal with their teammates
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Antonio has been without a club since, though, despite training with the likes of Brentford, Leicester and Charlton with a view to earning a deal.
West Ham’s London neighbours Charlton were said to be keen on signing the 35-year-old but he appears to have snubbed them for a move to Qatari outfit Al Sailya.
According to talkSPORT, Antonio has agreed to sign for the Doha-based club who compete in the Qatar Stars League, the country’s top flight.
Antonio aimed a parting shot at West Ham over his departure and fans noted that the striker never said a formal goodbye to them by way of a message or video, despite over a decade at the club.
During his time out of the game, the man famed for his Hammers celebrations has kept himself busy as a pundit on TNT Sports, covering a number of West Ham matches.
West Ham fans will be sure to keep an eye out for how Antonio and Zouma get on at their new clubs.
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