Credit: Imago

James Barker

Mon 30 March 2026 14:40, UK

Vladimir Coufal left West Ham United last summer upon the expiration of his contract, which is a decision London Stadium chiefs appear to have got wrong given his Hoffenheim exploits.

West Ham’s decision to let him leave the London Stadium was announced in May last year, as Coufal himself penned an emotional goodbye letter to everyone connected with the Hammers.

The defender enjoyed an excellent five years with West Ham, having arrived back in 2020 from Slavia Prague for a widely reported fee at the time of just £5.4million.

180 games and a UEFA Conference League trophy later, and Coufal had left a legacy that will see him remembered as one of West Ham’s best full-backs in the Club’s modern history.

As such, seeing him sign for Hoffenheim on a free transfer last August pained many a Hammers supporter, and his form in Germany this season will only serve to inflict further hurt.

How good has Vladimir Coufal been for Hoffenheim?

Coufal’s West Ham exit was always likely in the final stages of the 2024-25 season, as the 33-year-old endured his least influential campaign as a West Ham player last term.

Indeed, he only played 25 times in all competitions, and started just 11 times in the Premier League as West Ham ushered in the start of the Aaron Wan-Bissaka era on the right side of defence instead.

West Ham won’t have many regrets in regards to Wan-Bissaka, as the former Man United man has been consistently solid in Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this season.

However, Coufal has clearly been on a mission to prove the Hammers wrong for letting him walk out the door, and it’s been a successful one.

He’s scored once and provided six assists from 27 Bundesliga games for Hoffenheim this season, and has started every single one of his league appearances.

The Sinsheim-based outfit are on for their best Bundesliga finish since they came third in 2017-18, as Christian Ilzer’s side currently sit fifth, and Coufal has been integral to that.

As per Sofascore, Coufal has created 12 big chances this term, whilst also playing 1.7 key passes per game, has a 78 per cent passing accuracy and is recovering 5.1 balls per game.

He’s also made zero errors leading to goals, won 63 per cent of his aerial duels, been shown a yellow card just three times and has four team of the week inclusions respectively.

West Ham could do with Coufal’s quality and leadership now

It’s not just the production West Ham are missing from Coufal at this moment in time, it’s also his experience and leadership.

The veteran right-back was a huge part of the glue that held West Ham’s dressing room together, and is the kind of warrior and leader you want and need in there, especially when fighting to stay in the Premier League.

Indeed, Nuno’s current squad doesn’t have any natural defender over the age of 30, with the oldest age being 28, which five Hammers defenders currently are.

Having players with the level of experience, nous and cleverness that Coufal has is vital, and had he still been at the London Stadium, perhaps West Ham’s relegation outlook would’ve been a lot more positive with seven games to play.