---
title: "West Ham target Steven Nzonzi reveals why he rejected Hammers move"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2020/02/04/west-ham-target-steven-nzonzi-reveals-why-he-rejected-hammers-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Murray"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2020-02-04T22:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-02-04T22:00:00Z"
---

# West Ham target Steven Nzonzi reveals why he rejected Hammers move

West Ham were reportedly seeking a move for Steven Nzonzi during the January window, but the Frenchman decided against a move to the Hammers, according to [Foot Mercato](https://www.footmercato.net/ligue-1/le-stade-rennais-explique-le-bon-coup-steven-nzonzi_273253).

The [midfielder instead](https://www.footmercato.net/ligue-1/le-stade-rennais-explique-le-bon-coup-steven-nzonzi_273253) decided to move to French side Rennes, thus rejecting a move to the London Stadium.

This followed a spell at Galatasaray on loan, before Roma decided to cut Nzonzi’s spell in Turkey short to allow him to seek game time on loan elsewhere.

Speaking about why he rejected a move to West Ham to join Rennes, Nzonzi revealed that he wanted a return to his home country and that he had a lot of offers on the table for his services.

> I immediately liked the challenge. It’s a club that gives off the image of evolving positively. I immediately liked it, I wanted to return to my country, discover Ligue 1. There were a number of conditions that meant I accepted it straight away.
>
> I talked with the president, which went really well. All that means I am here today, and I’m very happy.

### Read West Ham’s verdict

West Ham did manage to get the [signing of Tomas Soucek](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51285153) over the line to bolster their midfield options, but they did miss out on getting a defensive midfielder in.

Nzonzi clearly wanted a return to France, and that may have been the deciding factor in why he rejected a move to West Ham.

However, he could also have seen the Hammers’ position in the table, and decided that he did not fancy a move to a relegation-threatened club.

However, in our opinion, West Ham could’ve done with signing the midfielder, because they will need all the quality they can get to survive in the Premier League this season.

Declan Rice is a quality option in the middle, but West Ham really could do with another defensive midfielder to ease the burden on the England star, which is something they were ultimately unable to bring in to the club.