West Ham Star Questions Chelsea's Treatment of Axel Disasi
West Ham United defender El Hadji Malick Diouf has publicly questioned Chelsea's decision to sideline Axel Disasi for an extended period, describing the situation as "crazy" while praising the French international's immediate impact at the London Stadium.
From Chelsea Outcast to West Ham Mainstay
Axel Disasi arrived at Chelsea in 2023 with significant expectations following his high-profile £38 million transfer from Monaco. The 27-year-old center-back struggled to justify that substantial price tag during a mixed debut season at Stamford Bridge, resulting in a loan move to Aston Villa midway through the 2024/25 campaign.
Upon returning to Chelsea, Disasi found himself completely frozen out of the first-team squad, failing to make a single appearance during the first half of the current season before securing a loan move to West Ham last month.
Immediate Impact in East London
Since joining West Ham, Disasi has made an immediate and impressive impact, featuring in six matches for the Hammers and suffering just one defeat during that period. The French defender has slotted seamlessly into Nuno Espirito Santo's backline, forming a solid partnership with left-back Diouf.
"The guy is not a small player!" Diouf told West Ham's official website. "He played for Chelsea, so he knows the league. It was crazy he stayed for such a long time and he didn't play, but when he came here, he showed that he's a machine!"
Diouf continued his praise, adding: "I'm really happy for him. He's a good defender and I think he helped us a lot."
Contract Situation and Future Prospects
Disasi still has three-and-a-half years remaining on his current contract with Chelsea, leaving his long-term future uncertain. Whether West Ham pursue a permanent deal for the defender will likely depend on their success in avoiding relegation from the Premier League this season.
The Hammers endured a difficult period between November and early January, going ten matches without a victory and raising serious questions about Espirito Santo's position as manager. However, the team's form has improved significantly since the turn of the year, with four league victories in 2026 lifting them level on points with Nottingham Forest in the standings.
West Ham's Survival Battle
Following West Ham's recent victory away to Fulham, Espirito Santo expressed cautious optimism about his team's chances of preserving their Premier League status.
"It's a special night because we did a good game in a tough, tough stadium against a very good team," the Portuguese manager told reporters. "We know how hard it is to come here and to achieve a result. That's what pleases us the most."
Espirito Santo emphasized the importance of continued improvement, stating: "We don't measure belief, we always have belief, we always have hope, what we need is improvement. Today was a big, big day for us, but the situation never changed. Nothing has changed. It required a lot more from all of us."
Disasi will be hoping to continue his impressive form when West Ham face Brentford in the FA Cup on Monday evening, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. His performances could prove crucial as the Hammers battle to secure their Premier League survival and potentially make his loan move permanent.
