LONDON: West Ham defender Kurt Zouma moved to Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah on loan on Saturday just weeks after a transfer to the United Arab Emirates collapsed.
The 29-year-old Frenchman made 103 appearances after joining the Hammers from Chelsea in a £29 million ($38 million) deal in 2021 but attracted widespread criticism in 2022 when a video emerged of him kicking and slapping his pet cat, for which he was sentenced to 180 hours of community service.
Zouma, who had a year left on his contract, went on to captain West Ham last season after Declan Rice left for Arsenal.
The Premier League transfer deadline was on Friday but the Saudi league window stays open until September 7.
Zouma agreed a move to Dubai-based Shabab Al-Ahli in the UAE earlier this summer but the move fell apart after he failed a medical.
Zouma leaves West Ham for loan to Saudi club Al-Orobah
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Zouma leaves West Ham for loan to Saudi club Al-Orobah
- Zouma captained West Ham last season after Declan Rice left for Arsenal
Dubai Basketball in good form ahead of Bayern Munich clash
- Dubai tackle German club on the back of wins in ABA League and tight EuroLeague clash
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball closed a demanding week on two fronts with a statement win in the ABA League and a narrow, hard-fought EuroLeague battle in Bologna, underscoring the team’s rising profile across Europe’s top competitions.
Last night, Dubai Basketball extended their flawless start to the ABA League Group A campaign, securing an 8-0 record with an impressive 74-88 road victory over Igokea in Laktasi.
The team controlled the game from the early stages to build a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter. From there, the visitors managed the contest with confidence and precision on both ends of the floor.
Mfiondu Kabengele delivered a standout performance, producing 20 points, 10 rebounds and a 29 valuation. McKinley Wright guided the offence masterfully, contributing 10 first-half points and shaping Dubai’s rhythm throughout the night.
The win preserved Dubai’s perfect ABA League record as they continue to set the pace in Group A.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Dubai Basketball’s Head Coach Jurica Golemac said: “This was a very important victory for us after a tough loss three days ago. The team showed a professional approach from the start and controlled the game for 40 minutes.
“Twenty-seven assists tell the story; we played team basketball, shared the ball, stayed physical on defense and deserved the win. We take the positives and move forward.”
A dramatic EuroLeague Round 14 encounter against Virtus Bologna on Friday saw Dubai fall just short, 79-78, after a tense fourth-quarter finish.
Despite overturning a 13-point deficit to lead at half-time and winning the rebounding battle 39-30, a pair of late three-pointers from Virtus Bologna’s Luca Vildoza proved decisive.
With the club sitting at 6–8 in the EuroLeague and firmly in the hunt, all eyes now turn to the home game against Bayern Munich in Round 15 at Coca-Cola Arena on Dec. 12.
