---
title: "Former West Ham wonder goal specialist calls time on his career"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2026/03/23/former-west-ham-forward-dimitri-payet-retires/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Matt Bottomley"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2026-03-23T08:45:00Z"
modified: "2026-03-23T08:45:00Z"
---

# Former West Ham wonder goal specialist calls time on his career

- **Former West Ham attacker Dimitri Payet calls time on his career**
- **Dimitri Payet made 60 appearances for West Ham, scoring 15 goals**
- **The 38-year-old played 38 times for France**

A lot has changed for West Ham United over the last ten years. The club left Upton Park for the London Stadium and went on to win a European trophy. Whilst they may [be having a tough time this season](https://readwestham.com/2026/03/22/aston-villa-2-0-west-ham-premier-league/), one player that fills most with nostalgia, has just retired.

Dimitri Payet, who joined the Hammers from Marseille in 2015, called time on his professional football career yesterday. The technical winger made 60 appearances for [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/), scoring 15 goals, a lot of which were incredible to see.

The now 39-year-old returned to Marseille after his spell in London, going on to make over 200 appearances for the Southern French outfit before finishing his career at Brazilian side Vasco de Gama. In his last season as a footballer, Payet did not find the net but was not far from the net, having three goal involvments.

Whilst Payet may have spent longer in France than anywhere else, the winger is certainly remembered for his season and a half in East London, tearing up the Premier League.

> Good luck saving that 🎯 \
> \
> This sensational free-kick from Dimitri Payet is 2️⃣ in our [#GoalsOfTheDecade](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoalsOfTheDecade?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/vtyj9AM021](https://t.co/vtyj9AM021)
>
> — West Ham United (@WestHam) [December 31, 2019](https://twitter.com/WestHam/status/1211972014304583680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

## Dimitri Payet’s West Ham spell

Payet joined [West Ham](https://whufc.com/en) from Marseille in a deal worth over £10m. A marquee signing but not one that made too many headlines. Instead, Payet would go on to make a serious impact in his one and half years at the club.

It didn’t take long for the French international to begin making an impact. On his debut, Payet landed a free-kick on the head of Cheikhou Kouyate’s head to help him score the second in memorable 2-0 win over [Arsenal](https://readarsenal.com/) at the Emirates Stadium. Six days later, he would net his first goal in 2-1 loss to Leicester City before scoring twice a the Boleyn Ground in a win over [Newcastle United](https://readnewcastle.com/).

**Dimitri Payet’s West Ham United Statistics**

| **Appearances** | **Goals** | **Assists** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 60 | 15 | 20 |

In early 2016, Payet would score an outstanding free-kick against [AFC Bournemouth](https://readwestham.com/2026/02/22/west-ham-0-0-afc-bournemouth-premier-league-26/) on his return form injury. The curling set piece would go on to be one of the may goals the Frenchman is remembered for from his time in England.

> 2015/16 Dimitri Payet 🤩 [pic.twitter.com/Wirjk1Ty2M](https://t.co/Wirjk1Ty2M)
>
> — Premier League (@premierleague) [March 29, 2025](https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1905964584483127425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

After signing a new deal, Payet would repeat the feat at [Manchester United](https://readmanutd.com/) but it wouldn’t be long before the winger would return home. After winning several awards with West Ham, Payet had a strong summer with the French national team and returned to Marseille in the beginning of 2017.