The stepovers, shimmies, flair, assists, and free kicks said it all. Dimitri Payet was truly a gem in his time at West Ham. The ability to create magic out of nothing left many in awe about his abilities at Upton Park.
Having arrived at West Ham in the summer of the 2015-16 Premier League season from Marseille for a fee of £10 million, Dimitri Payet quickly settled in like a duck to water. 9 goals plus 12 assists in his first season at East London had the Hammers dreaming about European football with their star man at the helm of the charge.
Payet’s world-class performances in his debut season in England caught the eye of many across Europe, which culminated in being named West Ham United’s player of the season, as well as being shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year Award.
Join Aladár Kollár, our expert guest author, as we delve into Payet’s journey from being characterized as temperamental, nonchalant, and sulky to becoming an East London cult hero.
Blossoming at Lille: The Story Begins
Prior to his move to West Ham, Payet spent most of his career playing in his country of birth, France, appearing for the likes:
- Nantes,
- AS Saint-Étienne,
- Lille, and
- Marseille.
Payet joined Ligue 1 champions Lille for €9 million in the 2011-12 season as a boost to their attack. Prior to his time at Nantes & AS Saint-Étienne, Payet had been accused of having a nonchalant attitude and sulking at games, being a detriment to his natural abilities.
“My managers understood that when I sulk, they talk to me. It’s a way for me to be heard”, Payet said.
Payet could be accused of a few things, but his love for football from an early age cannot be questioned. Like much of Europe, Dimitri Payet lives and breathes football and is still an active player at 37.
Payet’s affinity for the game is unsurprising, considering how much of the world watches football and participates in sports betting, especially on Bwin. From France to Hungary to Australia and beyond, football remains the number one sport. The most popular Bwin sports bet is football, signifying the popularity of the game across the globe.
Following the departure of Eden Hazard to Chelsea the following season, Lille coach Rudi Garcia had faith in him and trusted him with the creative duties of the team. Payet fully repaid his manager’s trust with 12 goals & 12 assists to his name, having also been named in the UNFP Ligue 1 team of the season.
Dimitri Payet West Ham Journey Begins: The Cult Hero of East London
Having arrived at West Ham at the age of 28, Payet took no time settling into his new surroundings. “West Ham was the best choice for me on the back of my best season in Ligue 1. I don’t think there was much room left for progress in Ligue 1”, Payet commented about his move to England
He marked his debut against fellow London rivals Arsenal with an assist in a 2-0 victory for his employers at the Emirates Stadium.
The following weeks and season would be preceded by Payet dazzling premier league defenders and fans alike with his array of skill sets, ranging from rabonas, stepovers & free-kick goals in his first season in England.
The ability to create nothing out of thin air is well depicted in his winner against Middlesbrough at Upton Park, which left many fans out of their seats in recognition of a truly fantastic player. West Ham, with Payet at the helm of the charge, would then go on to lead an unlikely push for European qualification, ultimately finishing 7th at the end season, a feat no one believed they could achieve at the start of the season.
Payet’s time at West Ham would be fondly remembered by fans and neutrals alike for his mesmeric displays across England, which oozed flair and class in the biggest league in the world.
He was named West Ham Player of the Year, as well as being nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award. He was also named Premier League Player of the Year at the London Football Awards, recognizing his achievements in an outstanding debut season.
Scoring a total of three direct free-kick goals in the premier league and a total of six in all competitions for the hammers, Payet was rightly labeled a “dead ball specialist”. His exploits in his first season in East London would also earn him a call-up to Didier Deschamps French national team for Euro 2016, which was hosted by his home country.
Dimitri Payet Stats For West Ham Earn Him International Call-Up
After a successful first season in England, Dimitri Payet would go on to star for France, eventually reaching the final on home soil in Euro 2016.
Having provided an assist for Oliver Giroud earlier in the opening fixture, a moment of beauty in the latter minutes of the game against Romania undoubtedly marked the birth of Payet’s stardom in the national team, where he had been overlooked for some time.
The game was locked in 1-1, heading for a stalemate until it was decided by a moment of brilliance from Payet. Cutting in from the right wing, he unloaded a shot straight into the top corner with his weaker foot to win the game for the hosts. This prompted a flow of overwhelming emotions from the talented West Ham star.
He had finally introduced himself to the international stage, where he truly belonged. Payet would make his mark at the tournament, scoring 3 goals and creating numerous chances for Les Blues on their road to the final, where they ultimately lost 1-0 to Portugal, which broke the hearts of many locals.
Dimitri Payet West Ham Exit and Return To Orange Vélodrome
Payet totaled 48 appearances for the Hammers, contributing 29 in the league for the East London side before prematurely departing back to France in the winter of 2017 following an excellent Euro 2016 campaign.
He may have departed the club early but remains somewhat of a legend, with some revering him as a cult hero in modern-day history. After saying “the level here in England is much higher than in France”, fans speculate that the Premier League might have taken its toll on the Frenchman, prompting him to leave.
Having rejected two earlier bids prior from Marseille, West Ham ultimately accepted a club-record £25 million bid after many attempts to persuade their star man to stay in London. Payet was buoyed by the new OM project, which saw an influx of talents into the club he had fond memories of.
His second stint at the club would notably be remembered by a Europa League final in 2018, where Marseille ultimately lost 3-0 to Atletico Madrid. He would go on to represent Marseille over the years until he left as a free agent in 2023.
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