Soungoutou Magassa shares what’s surprised him since moving to West Ham
Soungoutou Magassa made his full Premier League debut in West Ham United’s 1-1 draw against Everton.
After appointing Nuno Espirito Santo, the Portuguese slotted the Frenchman into a holding midfield role during Monday’s game.
Magassa signed from AS Monaco at the end of August and has featured in three of the Hammers’ six opening league games.
Following West Ham’s draw at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the young midfielder was praised after his first start and revealed what had surprised him since making his move to East London.
Soungoutou Magassa notices big difference between Ligue 1 and Premier League
Magassa shone against Everton, and since Nuno has come in, he has been given the opportunity to prove his worth.
Although he only played 59 minutes on Monday, he recorded a passing accuracy of 88 per cent as the Irons fought back to earn a deserved point.
In an interview with West Ham’s official website, he pointed out the differences he found since transitioning from Ligue 1 football to the Premier League.
He said: “It’s not the same [as Ligue 1]. There’s more intensity, and there’s more space, but it’s definitely a lot different, as sometimes you think you have the time, but you don’t.
“Your opponents are really good, whether that’s as individuals or as a collective. It’s a competition that has given me a taste for more.
“It’s harder to play cross-field and diagonally than in Ligue 1. It’s the best league in the world, with the best players and the best teams.”
The midfielder played 31 times for Monaco last season, including seven appearances and a goal in the Champions League.
He was also a member of the French national team that achieved a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Soungoutou Magassa can fulfil the Declan Rice role
To compare Magassa to Declan Rice would be silly, as to lump such pressure on the 21-year-old would not be beneficial.
But since losing such a high-calibre player in Rice, West Ham were always going to have issues replacing the output their former captain consistently produced.
The midfielder will be aided by the fact Nuno was interested in him when he managed Nottingham Forest, so the Frenchman now has the backing and confidence from his manager.
| Ground duel success rate | 50% |
| Dribble success rate | 100% |
| Touches | 43 |
Although his stats on the surface are not gleaming, at such a young age he displayed composure in the midfield and was integral in steadying the West Ham ship before they could build a platform to score an equaliser.
The Hammers now face a trip to Arsenal, which will provide another good indication as to where Magassa is in his development.
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