Former Chelsea and West Ham defender Kurt Zouma is being linked with a move to Chinese Super League side SD Taishan after becoming a free agent.
The 31-year-old centre-back, who most recently played for CFR Cluj before leaving to become without club in January 2026, is the subject of interest from the club currently listed as Shandong Taishan. The speculation, recorded with an unspecified probability (“?”), suggests the Chinese side are exploring a deal for the right-footed defender rather than any agreement being in place.
Zouma’s current market value is put at €4.00m, a figure that may appeal to SD Taishan as they look to add an experienced defender without paying a transfer fee. Having left Cluj for free, any move would be negotiated directly with the player and his representatives, with no indication yet of salary demands or contract length.
The Lyon-born defender, who holds both French and Central African Republic nationality, built his reputation in Europe’s top leagues. After emerging at AS Saint-Étienne, he joined Chelsea in 2014 and later had loan spells at Stoke City and Everton, before moving permanently to West Ham United in 2021. A loan switch to Saudi Arabian side Al-Orobah FC followed in 2024, ahead of his stint in Romania with CFR Cluj.
Zouma’s most recent documented period of form saw his market value at Cluj fall from €8.00m in September 2025 to €4.00m by December 2025, reflecting a downward trend from his peak years at Chelsea and West Ham, when he was once valued at €35.00m. No specific recent match details – such as opponents, dates or scorelines – are provided in the available data.
If SD Taishan do formalise their interest, a move to China could offer Zouma a fresh stage late in his career and the chance to re-establish his reputation as a commanding presence at the heart of a top-flight defence.
