Dimitri Payet

At 37 years old, Dimitri Payet has this physical status:

Dimitri Payet (French pronunciation: ​[dimitʁi pajɛt]; born 29 March 1987) is a French professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Marseille. A set-piece specialist, known for his accurate, bending free kicks, he primarily plays as an attacking midfielder, and is described as a player who is "blessed with terrific technique and dribbling skills".

Payet was born on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, where he began his career playing for local clubs Saint-Philippe and Saint-Pierroise. In 1999, he moved to metropolitan France, joining Le Havre. Payet spent four years at the club before returning home to spend two years playing for AS Excelsior in the Réunion Premier League. In 2005, he joined FC Nantes and, after a successful 2006–07 season, joined AS Saint-Étienne on a four-year contract. With Saint-Étienne, Payet played in European competition for the first time after featuring in the 2008–09 edition of the UEFA Europa League. In the 2010–11 season, he won the UNFP Player of the Month award for September after scoring three goals and helping Saint-Étienne reach first place in the league table. Following the season, in June 2011, Payet joined the defending champions Lille signing a four-year contract. He had two years there and a further two at Olympique de Marseille before moving abroad to join West Ham United. In 2017 he moved back to France to join his old team, Marseille.

Payet is a French international. From 2007 to 2008, he represented his country at under-21 level, making eleven appearances and scoring four goals. In 2010, he was called up to the senior team by manager Laurent Blanc for the first time. Payet made his international debut on 9 October 2010 in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Romania, appearing as a substitute. He was a member of the French squad that reached the final of UEFA Euro 2016.

Personal life

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Payet's club, Marseille, was badly affected financially due to the cancellation of remainder of the 2019–20 season. As a result, several players accepted pay cuts in May 2020. Payet, the club's top earner, refused such a cut, citing a family to support. In August 2020, Payet was one of five Marseille players who returned a positive test for COVID-19.

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Club career

Payet was born in Saint-Pierre, on the French Ocean's island of Réunion, and started his career with local club AS Saint-Philippe. He was nicknamed "a kid who stood out from his teammates" at the club as a youth and transferred to JS Saint-Pierroise, one of the island's best clubs. Payet was signed by Le Havre, a professional team in metropolitan France, with whom his club shared a common interest after only a year at Saint-Pierroise. During this time, Le Havre also recruited former Saint-Pierroise players Florent Sinama Pongolle and Guillaume Hoarau.

Payet spent four years at Le Havre, Le Havre, during a turbulent four years. He was accused of having a troubled demeanor and displaying a lack of motivation while training at the club. Payet returned to Réunion in 2003 to join AS Excelsior, despite the allegations, resulting in his resignation in 2003. He spent only a year and a half at Excelsior, a member of the Réunion Premier League, before being signed by Nantes in January 2005, a player with a desire to prove himself on the mainland. Payet signed a two-year amateur contract with the club, but Nantes was given the option of resigning the deal after six months.

Payet was accepted into the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France Amateur, France's fourth level of football, upon his arrival in Nantes. Payet quickly established himself as one of the best players on the reserve team during the 2005–06 season. Despite his natural indifference, he performed well with the team in 22 games scoring six goals, and was dubbed by the club's reserve team coach Stéphane Moreau as a "talented player." Since being drafted by manager Serge Le Dizet in December 2005, the player was called up to the senior team. Payet made his professional debut on December 19th in a league match against Bordeaux as a replacement in a 0–0 draw. Payet stayed with the senior team and scored his first professional goal in a 4–1 win over Metz after the winter break. The midfielder appeared as a replacement in the game and had been on the field for no more than two minutes before scoring the goal. Payet was relegated to the reserve team for the remainder of the season after playing in a league match against Toulouse on February 4th.

Payet has been a member of Nantes for three years as a result of his career from 2006 to 2007. By Le Dizet, he had been officially promoted to the senior team and was given the number 31 shirt. Payet made his first professional appearance in a league match against Lille on September 9, 2006, after appearing as a replacement in the first two matches of the season. He scored the equalizing goal in a 1–1 draw in the match. Payet got off to a winning 2–1 victory over Marseille two weeks later, scoring the first goal. Payet spent the remainder of the campaign as a starter. In a 1–1 draw with Sedan, he scored his only goal of the season. In an embarrassing 5–2 loss to Valenciennes, there was one weak spot in the campaign: a straight red card. Despite Payet's outstanding individual season, Nantes eventually finished in 19th place and were relegated, ensuring the club would play in Ligue 2 for the first time since 1963.

Payet's desire to remain in the first division after Nantes' relegation led to the player's request for a transfer request. The player was later credited to Sochaux and Saint-Étienne. Payet eventually agreed to play for Les Verts, stating that moving to the club was a "straightforward logical decision" and that Saint-Étienne "will give me the opportunity to play, which is a priority." Payet made the switch after agreeing to a four-year deal with the club ahead of the 2007–08 season. Nantes was compensated for his services.

Payet struggled to integrate himself into the team for the first season in his first season at Saint-Étienne. In a 1–1 draw with Monaco on August 4, he made his club debut on August 4th, 2007. Despite being a starter for the majority of the season, Payet scored no goals and didn't have any assists. Despite Payet's subpar season, Saint-Étienne finished in fifth place, giving qualification to the UEFA Cup. Payet returned to form in 2008-09, which culminated in the signing of the player by Saint-Étienne. He was given the privilege of captaining Saint-Étienne during a friendly against the Réunion national team on the island's return to the island prior to the season. Payet was involved in 30 league games, scoring four goals and giving six assists, including six in the season. In a 1–1 draw with Bordeaux on 29 September 28, he scored his first league goal for the club, netting the first goal. He scored the game-winning goal against his former team Le Havre in December 2008.

Payet played in European competition for the first time after participating in the 2008–09 edition of the UEFA Cup. In the first leg of the team's first round tie against Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv, he made his debut in the competition on September 18th. In a 2–1 victory, he scored the first goal on his debut. Payet scored a goal in a 3–1 victory over Danish club Copenhagen in the group stage. Payet was instrumental in the team's 5–2 aggregate victory over Greek club Olympiacos in the knockout rounds. He contributed to a win by a single goal in the first leg, while in the second leg he scored the opener in 2–1 positive results. Saint-Étienne was kicked out of the tournament by German club Werder Bremen, losing 3–2 on aggregate. In both legs, Payet appeared as a substitute. Saint-Étienne finished one spot below relegation in the league due to focusing on results in four competitions. Payet signed a two-year deal extension with the club on July 22, 2009.

Payet remained consistent in 35 league games, scoring two goals and giving six assists in the 2009–2010 season. He also did well in the cup competitions, particularly in the Coupe de France. In a 4–1 victory over Lorient on January 24, 2010, he scored a double. He defeated Vannes twice in two weeks. Saint-Étienne progressed to the quarter-finals after losing to Lens. Payet was involved in a physical altercation with colleague and captain Blaise Matuidi during the team's 1–0 loss to Toulouse on May 18, 2010. Payet was chastised by teammate Yohan Benalouane for displaying a lack of aggression in the first half. Matuidi, who mimics Benalouane's words, then confronted him. Payet and Matuidi were compelled to meet with the former player blowing a blow to Matuidi's head right before the two players were separated by referee Bruno Coue and colleagues. Payet was suspended after 31 minutes and fined by club president Roland Romeyer for being a result of the incident. Payet apologised for the incident just after. Payet described the incident as "an excuse that had no place" and that "the two teams were on new ground" after both Payet and Matuidi's call up to the national team. Matuidi described the change as a "lack of maturity" on both players' sides.

Payet put the summer behind him and started the 2010-11 season by scoring seven goals in the first two months of domestic play. In the team's opening 3–1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on August 7, 2010, he scored. Payet scored his first professional hat-trick in a 3–1 victory over Lens on August 29, 2010. He scored a double against Montpellier after the international break. In Payet's Derby du Rhône match against Lyon on September 25, the team's Payet scored a flawless free-kick goal. The free kick, who local media characterized as "superb and untouchable," was the team's only goal in the team's upset victory. Saint-Étienne gained first place for the week after winning. Payet received the UNFP Player of the Month award for September for his efforts. Payet attracted a lot of attention both nationally and internationally, particularly English clubs Chelsea and Liverpool, due to his international success. In January 2011, he was linked with a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, as the Parisian club attempted to fit in a new player after he had been drafted in January 2011 to replace departed Stéphane Sessègnon. Payet requested for the transfer, but Saint-Étienne refused. A tumultuous Payet was unable to attend training in an attempt to force the transfer ahead of its closing. Payet was demoted to the club's reserve team just days after returning to the team's reserve team against Montpellier on February 5th.

Payet returned to Saint-Étienne's squad for the following match against Lyon on Tuesday. Payet scored five goals and also received three assists in his last 14 matches of 2010–11. He had 13 goals on the season, making him Les Verts' top scorer.

Payet was on the verge of joining Lille's defending league champions Lille after the player himself informed him the previous day. Both Saint-Étienne and Lille announced the change just hours later. Payet has agreed to a four-year deal, but the transfer fee was set at €9 million, with future incentives to be added later.

Payet made his Lille debut in a 5–4 Trophée des Champions loss to Marseille at the Stade Ibn Batouta in Morocco on July 27th. In the 2011–12 season opener against Nancy, it was his Ligue 1 debut for the club. Payet scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 victory over Auxerre on October 15th. Payet made his UEFA Champions League debut as a 62nd-minute replacement for Benoît Pedretti in Lille's 1–0 home loss to Internazionale three days later.

Payet played in 23 of Lille's 38 league games in his first season as a professional footballer.

Payet established himself as a regular in Lille's attack in his second season, after the sale of Eden Hazard to Chelsea, starting only one of the team's Ligue 1 games. Payet was named as the league's top assist-maker during the team's 19 matches during the season's winter break, with 7 points out of 19. He had also scored in each of Lille's three games prior to the winter break, scoring in each of his three games prior to the winter break.

Payet was voted in the UNFP's Ligue 1 team of the season on May 18th. He ended the season as the league's joint top assist-maker, alongside Mathieu Valbuena with 12 goals. He also scored 12 league goals in his second-best scoring season of his career.

Marseille paid Payet for a fee in the region of €11 million on June 27, 2013. On his debut, he scored a brace in the first 15 minutes of the game, leading his team to a 3–1 win over Guingamp at the Stade de Roudourou on August 11-18.

Payet's second and last season with Marseille made more successful through-balls than any other player, with the exception of Lionel Messi. He made nearly twice as many main passes as any other player in 36 league appearances and led the Ligue 1 assist charts. Payet owed his outstanding 2014-2015 Marseille season, which changed his career, to Marcelo Bielsa, who was appointed as the head coach of Marseille on a two-year contract in May 2014. "I clicked with him," he told L'Équipe later. "He made me more mature and consistent." He put order into my game. "I still have his advice in my head." According to Jan Van Winckel (who was Bielsa's assistant during the 2014–2015 season), he was given the pivotal No. Defining him as the focal point of assaults makes him the most important of all.

For the second time, he was selected in the UNFP's Ligue 1 Team of the Season on May 17th.

Payet joined West Ham United in Premier League on a five-year deal on June 26, 2015, with the option to purchase an additional 12 months. According to reports, the transfer fee paid to Marseille was £10.7 million. Payet had no intention of leaving Marseille in the summer of 2015. Rather, his selling was influenced by Marseille's financial instability after the sales of players such as Florian Thauvin and Giannelli Imbula had stalled. On August 9, he made his Premier League debut against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and provided Cheikhou Kouyaté with the free kick assist. He scored his first goal for the team six days later, but it was in a 1–2 home loss to Leicester City. In a 2–0 victory over Newcastle on September 14, Payet scored twice against Newcastle. He was ruled out with an injury for an estimated three months after breaking his ankle in a tough match against Everton's James McCarthy in a 1–1 home draw on November 7. In a 3–1 victory over AFC Bournemouth on January 12, 2016, he scored his first goal since returning from injury, assuaging with a curling hit free-kick that went in off the underside of the crossbar, which was praised by many pundits. As he was replaced in the 78th minute by Alex Song, his Man of the Match performance received a standing ovation from West Ham supporters.

Payet signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract with West Ham, earning him £125,000 a week until the summer of 2021. At the 2016 London Football Awards, Payet was named Player of the Year in March. West Ham defeated Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 13 on a free kick that some journalists have characterized as "sublime" and "spectacular."

Payet was named Premier League Player of the Year at the London Football Awards in March and shortlisted by the Premier League for the 2016 PFA Players' Player of the Year award after an outstanding first season in English football. Payet was named in May 2016 as the 38th recipient of the West Ham United Player of the Year award.

Marseille announced their "OM Champions" initiative, which would be fueled by a new influx of qualified people following American businessman Frank McCourt's takeover. Morgan Sanson and Patrice Evra were purchased as a result of the acquisition. However, both the coaching staff and the board had been keen on returning Payet to the club following the 2017 January transfer window.

Payet no longer wanted to play for the club, according to West Ham United boss Slaven Bili on December 12, 2017. Despite no reported injuries, he did not appear in the matchday squad on January 14th. On the matchday, a mural installed in honor of Payet's top Player of the Year was guarded by security in order to "prevent it from being vandalised." Payet was later rejected by West Ham for two bids from his previous club Marseille. They said they did not want to sell the player, but they would like for him to apologise to fans and continue playing for the club. West Ham accepted a £25 million transfer for Payet on January 29, a new club record for the club. His mural at the London Stadium was erased and replaced with one to celebrate Andy Carroll's bicycle kick goal against Crystal Palace, who scored earlier in the month.

Payet made his second appearance in a 2016–17 Coupe de France clash against Lyon on January 31, 2017, appearing as a backup in extra time at the Stade Vélodrome as his new club defeated 2–1. Payet scored his first goal since returning to OM in a 2–0 home victory over Guingamp on February 8th.

Payet qualified in the Europa League semi-finals against Red Bull Salzburg on May 3, 2018 after Marseille suffered out a 1–2 home loss but claimed a 3–2 aggregate victory to guarantee a spot in the 2018 UEFA Europa League Final. Payet sustained a hamstring injury and was forced to leave the field in the 32nd minute of the first half of the Europa League Final against Atlético Madrid, leaving the field in tears. Marseille will lose 3–0.

Payet scored the first two goals of the 2018-19 Ligue 1 season on August 10, 2018, the second of which was a converted penalty awarded using video assistant refereeing (VAR) technology; the first use of VAR in French football.

On the 22nd of August 2021, Payet and the Marseille team were embroiled in an altercation with the opposition crowd in Nice. Payet threw the bottle back into the crowd after being struck by what seemed to be a plastic bottle launched by a fan. Nice fans then invaded the pitch, causing some fans and players to punch each other, resulting in Payet and two other players being injured.

International career

Payet is a former French under-21 international. He made his team debut in February 2007, against Switzerland, and he played a Jérémy Ménez goal. In the team's ensuing match against Denmark, he scored a double, a 3–1 victory.

Laurent Blanc called Payet up to the senior national team for the first time by Laurent Blanc in Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Romania and Luxembourg. On October 9, 2010, he made his debut in the former, starting as a replacement for Karim Benzema in the 86th minute and assisting Yoann Gourcuff in the goal of making it 2–0. He came on for the last 30 minutes against Luxembourg and then assisted Gourcuff for a goal three days later.

Payet scored his first goal on June 7, 2015, when Mathieu Valbuena announced it in the 73rd minute to score France's third goal 16 minutes later in a 4–3 home friendly loss to Belgium. In a 1–0 away friendly loss by Albania, Payet was reinstated at halftime. Payet was recalled in March 2016 for a squad to play the Netherlands and Russia after being absent from the French squad since then. Manager Didier Deschamps praised his son's success in a 3–2 victory over the Netherlands in Amsterdam on March 25th. Payet made six chances in the second half of the game and had six attempts, more than double that of any other player. He had the most touches of any player with 89. He scored a 30-yard free kick against Russia and later assisted Kingsley Coman in a 4–2 victory, four days later, with his first touch since replacing Antoine Griezmann.

Payet was named in the France squad for Euro 2016 in May 2016. In the first match of Euro 2016, France defeated Romania 2–1 on Monday after being named Man of the Match for scoring a goal, laying off an assist, giving eight scoring chances and delivering 13 crosses. In that match, Olivier Giroud led Payet's cross into the goal in the 57th minute, while Payet scored France's second goal in the 89th minute, a curling and strong left-footed shot into the top corner from 2 meters (2.2 yd) outside the penalty box. Payet was named Man of the Match in France's second group match against Albania on June 15th for his six scoring chances for his teammates and 17 crosses. Payet scored France's second goal in a 2–0 victory in the second game, with the goal being scored in the 96th minute. As the hosts progressed to the semi-finals of the tournament, he scored and assisted in a 5–2 victory over Iceland at the Stade de France on July 3rd. Payet was involved in a collision with Cristiano Ronaldo while trying to reach the ball, resulting in a head injury for the Portuguese forward and his expulsion after 25 minutes of play. Payet was later replaced, and Portugal eventually won the match 1–0 in extra time to lift the trophy.

Payet sustained an injury in the 2018 UEFA Europa League Final, resulting in him being left out of France's undefeated 2018 FIFA World Cup squad. Payet was not notified of his dismissal by manager Didier Deschamps; according to his mother, he "found out watching television like everybody else with the family."

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