With all the noise around other transfer activity today, one signing has gone firmly under the radar at the London stadium. According to several news outlets, including Footmercato, West Ham United have secured the signing of Dimitri Colau from Paris FC.
The 19 year old centre-back will reportedly signed a four year contract with an option for a fifth, with a medical scheduled for this Saturday.
Colau, a product of Paris FC’s academy, was promoted to the senior squad in 2023 and quickly made a name for himself with his composure and tactical awareness. Despite Paris FC’s recent promotion to Ligue 1, Colau has opted to take his talents to the Premier League, where he’ll initially join West Ham’s reserve team.
West Ham manager Graham Potter is known for nurturing young talent, and Colau’s arrival fits the club’s broader strategy of building a sustainable squad with long-term potential. While Colau may not feature immediately in the first team (he appears destined for the u21’s alongside former Paris FC midfielder Mohamadou Kanté) , his development will be closely monitored, and he could emerge as a key figure in future campaigns.
A former graduate of the Clairefontaine academy, Colau has been praised for his ball-playing ability, defensive intelligence and physical presence. This could be a shrewd transfer by the club. His move is seen as a low-risk, high-upside investment in a market where young defenders are increasingly valued.
The time to introduce young, inexperienced players off the bench is when we’re three goals up, not when we’re getting well beaten (at Sunderland and at home to Chelsea)
Against Wolves, we were winning the tie with eight minutes to go. It was Wolves’ first team players that won it for them when they were introduced off the bench in the 72nd and 73rd minutes. Another sub appeared one minute before their equaliser. If that goal never came, no-one would be complaining that Potter didn’t select a recognised striker from the start. I don’t believe that starting the game with Potts, Orford, Scarles and Marshall in the team would’ve put the game out of sight before the 82nd minute Wolves leveller – nor was that the time to introduce them to grab a last gasp winner. (Though Marshall might have been a reasonable gamble, before going to a penalty shoot out) As it turned out Wolves scored again in the 84th minute which proved to be the winner.
I understand your point but Wolves had made 8 changes from their League defeat, yet still looked comfortable against an almost unchanged Wrst Ham side who had only won 5 games in 21 matches under Potter. The set up of 9 defensive players who repeated the same mistake of falling deeper and deeper with no attacking options just invited pressure, yet Potter failed to inject any pace or attacking outlet. As for waiting until we are winning 3-0 before introducing Academy players frankly they would rarely get a game under Potter! His win record at Brighton was 31%, Chelsea 38% and West Ham 22%. If we cant play Academy players in competitions such as the Carabao Cup then they will eventually leave, and who could blame them?
Exciting times with him and Kante in the pipeline.
I heard he is seen as the generational talent at right back.
But will they get genuine first team opportunities under Potter with his dreadful record? Look at Ollie Scarles, finally made his first team breakthrough last season featuring 15 times in the PL including 7 starts. He won 54% of ground duels and 50% of aerial duals. Yet as soon as pre-season was over Scarles, Marshall, Orford and Potts are not even given game time in the Carabao Cup! Meanwhile Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea continue to give their emerging talents Premier League debuts who have got crowds on their feet playing with freedom and expression. When was the last time we saw that at West Ham since Dec left? With mounting pressure on the manager, will he finally unleash the young talent we already have, or stick to the same negative tactics and defensive set up? While I welcome these belated signings I do hope that our top Academy players do not have to leave to seek 1st team football elsewhere.
Oh for another ginger Pele or a young Craig Dawson win the ball at all costs type of central defender and all the other central defenders we have had in the past that have been legends ? Really can’t say the same about the 4 we’ve got now not really inspiring are they?
He will probably not get a game under Plodder sorry potter fer too young for at least another ten years 🤡, yet another last minute transfer window, too little too late.
Unfortunately West Ham have not been giving their academy youngsters sufficient opportunities in recent years. I would argue that he should go straight into the first team squad especially if he’s any good a heading the ball ( a known weakness of our defense) . Other Premiership teams are giving their youngsters valuable Premiership experience notably Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. West Ham should do likewise. Todibo costing us a whooping £32 million is almost laughable. Let’s focus more on young talent and bring them through like we were famed for doing in the past.
Matt the signing is welcome but I do take issue with your statement “West Ham manager Graham Potter is known for nurturing young talent”. Just look at his ridiculous decision at Wolves to pay without a specialist striker until the 84th minute when Fullkrug and Wilson were finally introduced while Callum Marshall, Freddie Potts, Ollie Scarles and Lewis Orford were not even used. This in a 2nd round Carabao Cup game against Wolves Reserves which we still lost! Contrast Potter’s ultra defensive line up with Arsenal who gave 15 year old Max Dowman his PL debut, and Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha who at just 16 has become the fourth youngest scorer in Premier League history. Potter has not hit a clue how to integrate our talented Academy players.
Agree👍 another example is Guilherme played so well in USA , looked quick strong , closing down well and had shots at goal (so confident) not seen since and now injured ?
I was thinking exactly the same if Potter had signed an initial 6 month contract he’d be on his way now! If Pott’s, Marshall, Orford and there’s one other who’s name escapes me don’t get significant game time and the debacle against Wolves suggest they won’t then he can pack his bags and head off into the sunset! He’s been a big disappointment so far and presumably he’ll get until Christmas to turn things around as he’s been backed with player’s more suited to his questionable system the clock’s ticking!