Jean-Clair Todibo continues West Ham resurgence after new reveal vs Brighton
Jean-Clair Todibo once again proved his worth to West Ham during their hard-fought 1-1 draw against Brighton on Sunday.
After Jarrod Bowen scored to put West Ham in front, it looked certain that the Hammers were on course to win their first away match under Nuno Espirito Santo at the AMEX.
However, Georginio Rutter’s controversial equaliser in the 91st minute means West Ham remain in the Premier League relegation zone.
The Hammers have had their fair share of defensive issues, although they have certainly looked more stable in recent weeks under Nuno.
Todibo has become a key player at the back in that time, and against Brighton, he continued that.
Jean-Clair Todibo wins 100 per cent of his duels vs Brighton
Todibo has certainly impressed in recent weeks and has improved massively on his lacklustre performances during the 2024-25 season.
The French defender has come a long way in a West Ham shirt, with supporters finally seeing what he brings to the team under the stewardship of Nuno.
According to FotMob, Todibo won all three of his ground duels while registering a pass accuracy of 81 per cent in the match.
| Stat | Jean-Clair Todibo |
| Touches | 38 |
| Pass accuracy | 21/28 (81%) |
| Ground duels won | 3/3 (100%) |
| Clearances | 5 |
Todibo joined West Ham from OGC Nice on an initial loan in 2024, and the obligation to buy him for £34.2million certainly left fans feeling confused.
Under Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter, the French defender was subjected to criticism from fans who felt he was far from good enough to play in the top flight.
This season, Todibo has taken his game up a level, already making eight tackles and 40 recoveries over the course of the Premier League season.
Max Kiman’s appalling form has meant he is no longer a guaranteed starter, and there is now no doubt that Todibo has excelled as a result.
Max Kilman’s drop-off has hugely benefited Jean-Clair Todibo
Against Bournemouth, Kilman inexplicably handled the ball inside his own box when making a slide tackle, which allowed the Cherries to rescue a 2-2 draw.
He was subsequently dropped for the following matches against Liverpool and Man United, before being reinstated into the starting line-up on Sunday.
The English defender has been exposed numerous times this season, and it has highlighted how much Todibo has developed in comparison.
Even though Todibo will want established partners on either side of him, he has clearly emerged as the most important centre-back in E20.
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