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Personal Information
| Full Name | Kurt Happy Zouma |
| Date of Birth | October 27, 1994 |
| Nationality | French |
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Role | Centre-back |
Kurt Zouma News
Kurt Zouma: A Brief Biography
Kurt Happy Zouma is a French professional footballer who plays as a center back for the club Everton, on loan from the Premier League club Chelsea. Born on 27th October 1994, Zouma started his career with Saint-Étienne at the age of 16.
Hailing from Lyon, France, he plays the role as a Centre back. The right-footed player won the Chelsea Young Player of the Year in the 2014-15 season and won the Premier League on a couple of occasions with Chelsea in 2014-15 and 2016-17.
Background
Zouma began his career at Vaulx-en-Velin at the year 2003 and spent six years at the youth setup before being moved to Saint-Étienne until the age of 15. He started his trade as a right winger and also then as a striker before switching to his current position as a defender.
On 2nd April 2011, he signed his first professional contract with Saint-Étienne.
Debut
He played in three different seasons for Saint-Étienne B before being promoted to the first team by then manager Christophe Galtier ahead of the 2011–12 season. On 31st August 2011, Zouma made his professional debut at a Coupe de la Ligue match, in the 3–1 win over Bordeaux when he was just sixteen.
He made his International debut against Denmark on 29th March 2015 when manager Didier Deschamps wanted to build a defense around Zouma and Raphaël Varane. They won the match 2-0 courtesy of Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud’s first-half strikes.
Rise to glory
On 20th April 2013, Zouma played a crucial part in Saint-Étienne's clean sheet in the 1–0 win over Rennes in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue.
On 31st January 2014, Zouma has signed Chelsea on a five-and-a-half-year contract for a fee of €14.6 million. He, however, remained at Saint-Étienne on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.
On 26th October 2014, He made his Premier League debut as an added-time substitute for Willian in the 1–1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
On 1st March 2015, Zouma played in as a defensive midfield for Chelsea when Nemanja Matić was suspended and John Obi Mikel was injured in the League Cup Final in a 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
he scored his first Premier League goal on 19 September, heading in Cesc Fàbregas' cross to open a 2–0 home win over the same opposition.
Low points
On 7th November 2013, Zouma was banned for ten games while playing for Saint-Étienne following a tough challenge that broke the right leg and a dislocated ankle of Sochaux's Thomas Guerbert.
On 7th February 2016, Zouma ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing against Manchester United after failing to land properly. A Surgery was essential and it resulted in spending time on the sidelines for the next six months.
Club career
Zouma started his career with Saint-Étienne B in 2011 and spent 3 seasons there featuring in 10 matches and scoring twice. It was followed by a promotion to the first team since the 2011-12 season.
Making a total of 73 appearances and scoring 4 times, Chelsea shelled out € 14,60 Million on 2014 winter transfers and made 71 appearances for the club. He, however, made his transfer a the end of the season and was sent to Stoke City on loan for a reported fee of € 7.80 Million in the 2017-18 season.
