- Kurt Zouma has failed his medical ahead of his planned move to the UAE club
- West Ham captain reportedly set to complete transfer to Shabab Al-Ahli
- Get the latest Premier League news direct to your phone with Mail Sport’s new whatsapp channel
Kurt Zouma’s transfer to United Arab Emirates’ Shabab Al-Ahli has fallen through after the player failed a medical ahead of his move to the club.
The West Ham captain was due to join the Middle Eastern club as a free agent and had travelled to Dubai for a medical, which all football transfers are subject to.
However, Zouma failed his medical, causing the transfer to fall apart. West Ham are now waiting to see if an alternative solution can be found for the central defender.
The situation could pose a huge headache for the London club, who recently completed a loan deal for Jean-Clair Todibo from Ligue 1 club Nice, which includes a £34m purchase option.
Zouma, 29, has been at the Hammers since 2021 after joining from Chelsea for £29.8million and has become a leader in a squad that has won European titles in recent seasons.
Kurt Zouma’s transfer to Shabab Al-Ahli from the United Arab Emirates has failed
The West Ham captain is said to be joining the Middle Eastern club as a free agent
He made 103 appearances in all competitions and was part of the West Ham team that won the Europa Conference League in 2023.
Zouma was subsequently appointed club captain at the start of the following season after Declan Rice left for Arsenal for £105million.
Zouma, who has a year left on his contract, is considered one of the highest-earning players at the London Stadium.
West Ham now wait to see if an alternative solution can be found for the centre-back
His departure will help improve West Ham’s wage budget after a major summer overhaul under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
The Frenchman is believed to be one of the club’s highest earners, and if the deal falls through at this point, it could spell trouble for the business West Ham had planned to do.
The Hammers have already signed Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug, Luis Guilherme and Guido Rodriguez for a combined fee of £117.5million this transfer window.
His proposed departure would also end his 10-year spell in English football, after he left Saint-Etienne for Chelsea in 2014 for £12million at the age of 19.
