Kurt Zouma makes transfer no-one saw coming to link up with ex-Man Utd and Arsenal star

Former West Ham captain Kurt Zouma has made the unexpected move of joining Romanian outfit CFR Cluj. French centre-back Zouma was a free agent after leaving the Hammers at the end of June, so would have able to move outside the transfer window, though Romania's window remains open until September 9.

Zouma, 30, played more than 200 Premier League matches for Chelsea, Stoke, Everton and West Ham. He spent last season on loan at Saudi Pro Leagueside Al Orobah, but didn't make the move permanent.

Cluj have signed the Frenchman after finishing second in Romania's SuperLiga last season. However, they missed out on European qualification after defeat against Hacken in the Conference League play-off round.

Zouma's move owes a lot to compatriot Mikael Silvestre. Former Manchester United and Arsenal defender Silvestre is the Romanian club's sporting director, and club president Cristi Balaj spoke about his influence.

"Mikael Silvestre helps, he helps us in this aspect," Balaj said before the signing was confirmed (per DigiSport). "He comes from a free agent position, I can't give more details."

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Zouma's move means nine of the 14 players used by West Ham in their 2023 Conference League final victory have now found new clubs. Alphonse Areola, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen are the four who remain at the London Stadium, while Michail Antonio remains without a club as he steps up his recovery from serious injury but has been training with the Hammers.

The entire back four from that win against Fiorentina left East London this summer. Vladimir Coufal joined Hoffenheim on a free transfer after his West Ham contract expired, while Nayef Aguerd and Emerson both made deadline day moves to Marseille.

While Zouma's wait for a new club is over, a number of former Premier League stars are still unattached. Among them is Zouma's former West Ham team-mate Lukasz Fabianski, who turned 40 earlier in the year.

Ex-England international Dele Alli is also available to sign for a new club outside the window, having agreed a mutual termination of his Como contract after just one Serie A appearance. Elsewhere, Takehiro Tomiyasu has yet to find a new club after leaving Arsenal, while Christian Eriksen is waiting to decide his next steps after three seasons with Manchester United.

Some other free agents have been more successful, though. Eriksen's former United team-mate Victor Lindelof joined Aston Villa on deadline day, and Jamie Vardy moved abroad for the first time in his career after joining Serie A newcomers Cremonese.

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