Kurt Happy Zouma was born on 27 October 1994 and is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club West Ham United and the France national team.
28 Facts About Kurt Zouma
2.
Kurt Zouma represented France at several youth levels, up to under-21.
3.
Kurt Zouma made his senior international debut against Denmark on 29 March 2015.
4.
Kurt Zouma played as a right winger and as a striker before switching to his current position of a defender.
5.
On 7 November 2013, Kurt Zouma was banned for ten games following a challenge that left Sochaux's Thomas Guerbert with a broken right leg and a dislocated ankle.
6.
Under interim manager Guus Hiddink, Kurt Zouma regularly started alongside Terry as Chelsea's form improved.
7.
On 7 February 2016, Kurt Zouma ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after landing awkwardly from a jump in a match against Manchester United.
8.
Kurt Zouma required surgery and was ruled out for six months.
9.
In November 2017, Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross expressed his surprise that Chelsea had loaned out Kurt Zouma, who had only missed one match, against his parent club.
10.
Kurt Zouma returned to Chelsea following the expiration of his loan at Everton.
11.
Kurt Zouma made 32 appearances and scored 2 goals with the club.
12.
Kurt Zouma had played 151 games in all competitions for Chelsea, scoring 10 goals.
13.
Kurt Zouma is a France youth international having represented his nation at under-16 and under-17 level.
14.
Kurt Zouma played with the under-17 team at the 2011 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
15.
Kurt Zouma has been the captain for the French under-21 team.
16.
Kurt Zouma was part of the under-20 team that won the 2013 World Cup in Turkey.
17.
Kurt Zouma returned to the squad in August 2017, replacing the injured Raphael Varane for a World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands.
18.
Kurt Zouma was put on standby for France's squad at the final tournament in Russia.
19.
In January 2014, Kurt Zouma was named by British newspaper The Observer as one of the ten most promising young players in Europe.
20.
Kurt Zouma predicted that Zouma could be a Chelsea mainstay for years to come, and would be an ideal replacement for captain John Terry, then aged 34.
21.
Kurt Zouma's parents emigrated to France from the Central African Republic.
22.
Kurt Zouma's older brother Lionel plays in the same position, and his younger brother Yoan is a defender.
23.
Kurt Zouma is married to Sandra, with whom he has three children.
24.
Kurt Zouma is a Muslim and made a pilgrimage to Mecca in 2019.
25.
On 7 February 2022, footage emerged of Kurt Zouma kicking, slapping and throwing objects at his cat, filmed at his home by his brother, Yoan Kurt Zouma.
26.
Kurt Zouma was condemned by both his club and the RSPCA.
27.
Kurt Zouma apologised and said that despite his actions, his two pet cats were "fine and healthy".
28.
Kurt Zouma was ordered to carry out 140 hours of community service.