Kurt Zouma to join UAE Pro League side Shabab Al-Ahli on a free transfer

West Ham captain Kurt Zouma is reportedly closing in on a move to join UAE Pro League side Shabab Al-Ahli on a free transfer.

Zouma joined West Ham from Chelsea in 2021 costing the London club £29.8million. He has since gone on to rack up 103 appearances in all competitions and was part of the West Ham side who won the Europa Conference League in 2023.

However, it seems the France international will start a new adventure elsewhere.

According to BBC Sport, the Frenchman is set to join Shabab Al-Ahli, who are based in Dubai, in the coming days. The report claim that Zouma has been in talks with the UAE Pro League outfit and a deal is almost complete.

Zouma’s departure will also bring to an end his 10-year stay in English football after joining Chelsea from Saint-Etienne for £12m as a 19-year-old in 2013. While at Stamford Bridge, Zouma also enjoyed loan spells at Stoke City and Everton before his permanent move to West Ham in 2021.

The defender, who has won 11 caps for France, played 151 times for the Blues, winning five trophies with the club, including two Premier League titles and the Champions League. He was named West Ham captain at the start of last season after Declan Rice joined Arsenal for £105m.