Former France and West Ham star Payet announces retirement

Former France and West Ham attacker Dimitri Payet announced his retirement from football on Sunday during a live interview on French television.

The 38-year-old, who became a cult figure in the Premier League during two spellbinding seasons at West Ham, was best known for his devastating set-piece prowess and dribbling.

In 60 games for the Hammers between July 2015 and January 2017, Payet netted 15 goals and laid on 22 assists.

He also represented Saint-Etienne, Nantes, Lille and Marseille in France, as well as Brazilian side Vasco da Gama.

“Today, a few days before my 39th birthday, I am retiring as a professional footballer,” Payet told Ligue1+ during half-time of the French top flight match between Marseille and Lille.

“It’s raining today, and that’s no coincidence,” said the Reunion-born player, who won 38 caps for France, with whom he reached the final of Euro 2016.

A tearful Payet explained that he did not want to be part of “a project where I can’t give 100 percent”.

Payet has been without a club since leaving Vasco da Gama in July last year. His two-year stint at the Rio de Janeiro outfit was marred by an off-pitch scandal.

In March 2025, a Brazilian woman claiming to have had a romantic relationship with Payet lodged a complaint against him in Rio de Janeiro for “physical and psychological violence”.

According to the Brazilian press, citing a police report, Payet reportedly admitted to an extramarital affair but denied the allegations of abuse.

The case will be brought to trial in Brazil.