‘It was crazy!’ – Chelsea questioned for leaving out £38m ‘machine’
‘It was astonishing!’ – Chelsea under fire for omitting £38m ‘machine’
El Hadji Malick Diouf has lauded the progress of Axel Disasi since his arrival at West Ham, calling it unexpected that the defender hadn’t secured consistent first-team opportunities at Chelsea. Disasi, who joined the Blues from Monaco in a high-profile £38 million transfer in 2023, faced mounting pressure to justify his hefty price tag during his first season at Stamford Bridge.
The 27-year-old centre-back struggled to establish himself in Chelsea’s defensive line, leading to a loan spell at Aston Villa midway through the 2024/25 campaign. Upon returning, Disasi remained sidelined for much of the season, making no appearances in the first half before securing a move to West Ham last month. His new club, however, has seen him thrive in the early stages of Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure as manager.
“The guy is not a small player!” Diouf, who partnered Disasi in all five of his first league games for West Ham, told the club’s official website. “It was astonishing he stayed for so long without playing, but when he came here, he showed he’s a machine!”
Disasi has since made a strong impact, contributing to a series of solid defensive performances as West Ham seek to avoid relegation. With four league wins in 2026, the team now sits on equal points with Espirito Santo’s former club Nottingham Forest, and a victory over Manchester City in their upcoming FA Cup quarter-final clash could push them up to 15th place in the Premier League table.
Despite a dismal run of ten winless games between November and early January, West Ham has turned its fortunes around since the start of the new year. After securing a recent win against Fulham, Espirito Santo expressed optimism about the club’s chances of staying in the top flight. “We did a good job in a tough stadium against a strong team,” he said post-match. “We know how difficult it is to achieve results here, and that’s what we’re most proud of.”
“We don’t measure belief, we always have it,” Espirito Santo added. “What we need is continued improvement. Today was a major step, but the situation hasn’t changed. We’re still fighting for survival.”
Disasi’s current contract with Chelsea still has three-and-a-half years left, and whether West Ham pursues a permanent deal will hinge on their ability to avoid the Championship. Meanwhile, Metro’s Head of Sport James Goldman provides sharp insights, transfer updates, and commentary on the latest football developments directly to subscribers each week.
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