Disasi Reflects on Chelsea Journey and Embraces New Beginnings at West Ham

omidbasir- Axel Disasi joined Chelsea from AS Monaco in the summer of 2023 and made 44 appearances across all competitions during his inaugural season under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. However, following Enzo Maresca’s appointment as head coach, Disasi’s playing time dwindled significantly. He featured in only 17 matches during the first half of the 2024-25 season before being loaned to Aston Villa.

The French international was expected to secure another transfer during the summer window but was unable to find a new club, leading to his training with Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’, which included Raheem Sterling, away from the first team. Eventually, he was reintroduced to the senior squad by new manager Liam Rosenior before finalizing a move to West Ham on deadline day of the winter transfer window.

In an interview on West Ham’s in-house podcast, Disasi reflected on his experiences at Chelsea and expressed his gratitude for joining the Hammers. “It has been really nice; my situation before was a little bit crazy. For me, it is only a positive to be here; it feels great to be part of something,” he stated.

Disasi acknowledged the challenges he faced during his time at Chelsea, noting, “In Chelsea, the time was a little bit crazy, but my background helped me to get through. I stayed sharp, worked hard, and always ensured that my mindset was focused. My family provided tremendous support during this period. I found that my background was a significant asset.”

Interestingly, Disasi revealed that his aunt is a West Ham supporter who would have preferred him to join the club over Chelsea from the outset. He shared, “My auntie is a West Ham fan; West Ham is her team. When I signed for Chelsea, she was happy, but she also said, ‘Ah, I would have preferred West Ham.’ Now that I am here, she is delighted.”

Having not played a competitive minute this season until joining West Ham, Disasi has already made three appearances for his new club. West Ham, currently fighting against relegation and positioned in 18th place, will host Bournemouth this Saturday.