At the end of a season in which Dimitri Payet scored 7 goals and provided a whopping 21 assists in 36 Ligue 1 appearances, West Ham United moved into the transfer market to secure his services for a reasonable fee of just £13.5 million.
That the Hammers managed to secure a player of Payet’s quality and track record for such a modest price is indicative of quite how drastically the market has skyrocketed in recent years.
Any doubts about Payet’s ability to replicate his form in France in the Premier League were immediately laid to rest on the opening day of the campaign, when his free-kick was headed home by Cheikhou Kouyate in West Ham’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
It was a sign of things to come from Payet and he quickly established himself as a firm favourite on the terraces due to his star quality and bullish approach.
There are certainly parallels to be drawn between Payet and the new cult hero, Marko Arnautovic, as both players embody the spirit of a club who reserve no time for players harbouring an over-inflated sense of self-importance.
Despite suffering a ligament tear midway through the season, Payet went on to notch 9 goals and provide 12 assists in all-competition during his maiden campaign, endearing himself to a smitten fan-base all the while.
The extent of his quality at this level was so profound that it seemed utterly bizarre that the Hammers had been able to secure his signature with little by way of competition from the Premier League’s elite clubs. Indeed, his performances certainly provided substantial evidence to prove he was worthy of a bigger challenge.
And perhaps Payet realised the absence of European football was not satisfactory for a player of his talent, as he left midway through his second season to return to Marseille in a deal worth £26.5 million.
Disappointed with the loss of their most infectiously talented player, West Ham at least had a profit of £13 million to cling onto just eighteen months after signing him.
Leaving with a record of 15 goals and 23 assists in 60 appearances, Payet will go down as one of the best players to ever grace the hallowed turf of Upton Park, and his success is a testament to the work of the scouting network who identified him while the rest of the Premier League were sleeping.
West Ham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
