Profile: Jean-Clair Todibo
All the info on our new French defender
Age: 24
Nationality: French
Position: Central defender
Transfer fee: Loan with option to buy, £35 million.
Jean-Clair Todibo "I’m thrilled to join West Ham. The Premier League is a fantastic competition, and I believe this is the right step for my career. The club has shown great ambition, and I can’t wait to be part of this exciting project".
Jean-Clair Todibo "The discussions with the club’s management were very positive. They have a clear vision for the future, and I am eager to contribute to the team’s success".
BBC Sport
Toulouse
In 2016 Todibo was recruited by Toulouse. In the 2017-2018 season, he made his debut for the club's reserve team. On the 19 August 2018, Todibo was handed his Ligue 1 debut against Bordeaux in a 2-1 victory.
Barcelona
On the 31 January 2019, Todibo joined Barcelona. With first-team opportunities at Barcelona limited Todibo's development continued through a series of loan spells at Schalke 04, Benfica and Nice.
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Nice
In June 2021, Nice announced the completion of the permanent transfer, with the club paying a reported fee of €8.5 million. In the 2021-2022 season, he featured prominently for the club, making 36 appearances in Ligue 1, although in September 2022, in a match against Angers, Todibo was sent off after a mere nine seconds, the fastest red card in Ligue 1 history.
Internationals
In November 2018, he made his debut for the France Under-20 side, featuring in a 1-1 friendly draw against Switzerland in Cartagena, Spain. In March 2023 he received his first call-up to the senior French national squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland. Todibo's international debut for the senior French side came on the 12 September 2023, when he featured in a 2-1 friendly loss against Germany. In his competitive debut on the 18th of Todibo played in France's record-breaking 14-0 victory over Gibraltar.
West Ham
As the 2024 summer transfer window approached, Todibo found himself at the center of a high-stakes transfer tussle, with multiple European heavyweights vying for his signature. Juventus were believed to be the frontrunners in the race to secure his services, engaging in protracted negotiations with Nice in an effort to reach an agreement.
However it was West Ham United who emerged as the unlikely victors in this transfer saga. The club had been monitoring Todibo's situation closely and managed to convince the talented defender to join their ranks.
On the 9 August 2024, West Ham announced that they had agreed to a deal with Nice as an initial loan arrangement with an option to make the transfer permanent for a reported fee of £35 million. Todibo's imminent arrival in London was seen as a significant coup for the Hammers, as they managed to fend off interest from Juventus
Career Summary
Toulouse B (2017-2018)
Matches: 9
Goals: 0
Toulouse (2018-2019)
Matches: 10
Goals: 1
Barcelona (2019-2021)
Matches: 4
Goals: 0
Schalke 04 (Loan) (2020)
Matches: 8
Goals: 0
Benfica (Loan) (2020-2021)
Matches: 0
Goals: 0
Nice (Loan) (2021)
Matches: 15
Goals: 1
Nice (2021-2024)
Matches: 100
Goals: 1
West Ham United (2024-Present)
Honours
Barcelona:
France U20: