Kurt Zouma is a French professional footballer currently playing for West Ham United and the French national team as a defender. His height and strength have turned him into a threat for strikers. He has been phenomenal in helping some clubs he has played for to win trophies.
He was there when Saint Etienne won the Coupe de la Ligue, and Chelsea when they clinched the League Cup, the Premier League, and UEFA Champions League. He also represented France at both junior and senior levels.
Who is Kurt Zouma
He was born Kurt Happy Zouma on the 27th of October 1994 in the city of Lyon, France by his father Guy Zouma, and his mother whose name is not known. He grew up in Lyon as one of the 6 children of his emigrant parents.
He is French by nationality but with African roots traced to the Central African Republic, where he left and moved to France in search of better ways of life.
Kurt Zouma has two other brothers who also play professional football. One of them is named Lionel Zouma who currently plays the position of a defender for Swiss club Vevey United and his native country, the Central African Republic (CAR). His other brother Yoan Zouma plays as a loaned player for Altrincham FC.
The journey to becoming a soccer player started at a tender age. Kurt Zouma was 9 when he first played for Vaulx-en-Velin as a right-winger and striker before swapping to a defender. He played for the team for 6 years before he made a move to Saint Etienne.
Two years later he put a pen to paper on his first formal contract with the club for 3 years. He later got a promotion to the club’s senior team by Christophe Galtier. He made his first-team appearance at 16 in August 2011 against Bordeaux.
He joined Chelsea in January 2014 for a fee of £12 million. They later loaned him out to Stock City in 2017 and Everton in 2018. However, after his loan spell with the two clubs, he returned to Chelsea in 2019 and continued playing. Though his contract with The Blues was supposed to last till 2023, he signed for another London club, West Ham United on 28th August 2021 for a four-year contract worth £28 million.
He has won the following trophies and accolades throughout his career:
- UEFA Champions League (2020/2021)
- Coupe de la Ligue (2012/13)
- 2 Premier League cups (2014/15 and 2016/17)
- EFL Cup (2014/15)
- FIFA U-20 World Cup (2013)
- Chelsea Young Player of the Year (2014//15)
How Much He Earns As Salary And Have As Net Worth
Many people would wonder how much this tall defender earns as a salary playing for West Ham. Initially, he was earning £46, 000 as a weekly wage and raked up to £2, 392, 000 annually. So far he has earned a whooping £17, 368,000 throughout his playing career. But his £29.8 million move to West Ham would see him earn £6.2 million annually and £120, 000 weekly.
He reportedly has a net worth of £23 million. He garnered this amount from his contracts with the various clubs he has played for. Remember in 2014, he signed a 5 year deal with Chelsea amounting to £12 million.
His current contract with the East London club will run out in 2025.
Zouma’s Animal Abuse Drama
The 31 year-old French defender made headlines on 7th February 2022 when a video clip surfaced of him kicking and punching his cat, while his brother Yoan films it at his home. His actions were widely condemned by West Ham United and RSPCA, and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation filed a complaint against him.
Initially, his club said they would handle the issue internally, but David Moyes selected him to play in their EPL encounter with Watford the same day. This development didn’t go down well with BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker, Conservationist Chris Packham, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan who condemned the club for selecting him despite the controversy.
Essex Police and RSPCA have collaborated to lunch an investigation into the abuse. RSPCA took Zouma’s two cats into custody on 9th February.
Both Zouma and the club are suffering the brunt of his actions, with Vitality and Experience Kissimmee suspending their sponsorship deal with the club, and Adidas calling of its partnership deal with the defender. West Ham reportedly fined him two weeks’ wages worth £250,000.
His younger brother Yoan is also bearing the brunt for his involvement in filming the video. It was reported that his club Dagenham & Redbridge of the National League suspended him.
Zouma has offered an apology for his actions.
His Body Measurements
The tough former Chelsea and French defender is tall; he stands at a height of 6 feet 3 inches. And carries a bodyweight of 95kg. His height and weight that has given him the edge to always suppress and tackle strikers of other teams.
Also, Read; Marcos Alonso Bio, Net Worth, Salary, Girlfriend, Family, 5 Fast Facts
Who Is His Wife?
Kurt Zouma’s wife is Sandra Zouma. Although details regarding how long she dated Kurt before walking down the aisle remain unclear. Information reveals that the happy couple dated for some time before tying the nuptials in 2012.
She is a very loving mother to their 2 kids. And a respectful and supporting wife to her husband. She is always in the stands watching cheering him on.
5 Facts About Kurt Zouma
5. He Shares a Name with Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Character in The 1989 Action Thriller Movie Kickboxer
His parents have a unique way of naming their children. His first name was given as Kurt, the same as Kurt Sloane, played by Jean-Claude Van Damme in the famous 1989 action thriller film Kickboxer.
4. He Practices The Islamic Religion
Zouma prays 5 times a day as prescribed by the Islamic religion for its followers. He has also traveled to the Islamic country of Saudi Arabia in 2019 as a pilgrim to Mecca. This shows how he has been following strictly the tenets of the Islamic religion.
3. His Second Name “Happy” originates From An African Belief
As someone whose family moved to France from the Central African Republic (CAR), his parents hold dear to heart their African beliefs. Therefore, his second name is Happy; a genuine reflection of the African custom of using optimistic words as second names.
2. He Got Married In 2012
Many people might wonder that the young French and Chelsea playmaker is married. Well, he got married in 2012 when he was just 19.
1. He is Younger Than His wife
Age is just a digit, but love and maturity come from the heart and mind. This is clear in Kurt’s and Sandra’s marriage. Although he is 2 years younger than her, she supports, loves, and respects her husband.
Complete profile of Kurt Zouma
| Kurt Zouma | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kurt Happy Zouma |
| Date of Birth | 27 October 1994 |
| Age | 31 |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | French |
| Birth place | Lyon, France |
| Profession | Professional footballer |
| Playing Position | Defender |
| Clubs | 2003–2009 FC Vaulx-en-Velin 2009–2011 Saint-Étienne 2011–2013 Saint-Étienne B 2011–2014 Saint-Étienne 2014– Chelsea 2014 → Saint-Étienne (loan) 2017–2018 → Stoke City (loan) 2018–2019 → Everton (loan) 2021- West Ham United 2010 France U16 2010–2011 France U17 2012 France U19 2013 France U20 2013–2014 France U21 2015– France |
| Father | Guy Zouma |
| Mother | NA |
| Siblings | Yoan Zouma, Lionel Zouma and 4 more |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse/Partner | Sandra Zouma |
| Girlfriend | Sandra |
| Kids | 2(son and daughter) |
| Religion | Islam |
| Estimated Net Worth: | £23 million |
| Source of net worth | Football career |
| Height | Feet- (6ft 3 in) Meters- 1.90m Centimeters-190cm |
| Weight | 95 kg |
| Eye color | Black |
| Hair color | Dark brown |
| Social media | instagram |
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