Nayef Aguerd could not contain his delight at securing his transfer to West Ham United.
The Morocco defender has signed a five-year deal with the Hammers after transferring to the Premier League side from Ligue 1 side Rennes.
In joining West Ham and getting the opportunity to play in England, Aguerd says he has achieved a career-long aspiration.
“West Ham is a historic Club,” the 26-year-old told Carlton Cole in an interview for West Ham TV. “I saw a few West Ham games this year, and I saw the fans and the atmosphere were fantastic, with the bubbles!
“I spent two wonderful years at Rennes. I will never forget these years, but it was time to go and reach another club and another ambition. I was really excited when I heard that West Ham were interested in me.
“Also, the fans sent me messages on social media. I didn’t answer because I couldn’t, but when I saw I knew I needed to go to the Premier League. It’s a dream for every player.
“Since I was a child, my dream was to play in Europe. I know real football is played in Europe. In Morocco, we have a lot of good players but for me – it wasn’t that I wanted to change the mindset of those Moroccan players – but for me it was Europe.
“It is really hard to go to Europe and play when you’re born in Africa. For me, it was a dream, and I’m in Europe and I’m very happy.”
Aguerd comes from a rich heritage of footballers, with his father and both of his uncles also playing professionally. One uncle, Abdelmajid Bouyboud, was capped 34 times and appeared at the 1994 FIFA World Cup finals in the United States.
“I had two uncles who played, and my Dad also played football,” he continued. “I grew up in a football environment. My goal was always to be better than them! I’m not trying to tease them but they didn’t play for West Ham, so I can say that now!
“It was good though and I really wanted to go out and show my Dad that I played in Europe and played for the national team.”
The centre-back has impressed in Ligue 1 and in European competition over the last two seasons with Rennes, putting on a number of stellar performances against top-tier opposition.
Talking about his style of playing, Aguerd continued: “It depends on what the coach asks me to do on the pitch, but I love to have the ball and have control of the game.
“I try to be clean and tidy with the ball, but I can’t forget my first role, which is to be a defender. I try to find the balance between playing clean football and being a defender. From corners, I love to score goals too. I try to score goals.”
The Morocco international has tested himself against some of the very best attackers in world football over the last season, notably coming up against the ferocious attacking trio at Paris Saint-Germain in Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
Rather than be deterred by such opponents, Aguerd relishes the tough battles against the very best. It is something that made playing for West Ham in the Premier League an even more attractive proposition.
“I love challenges," he confirmed. “I love to challenge myself. I hate to lose in training. I am so competitive. I love the competition. In every game, I want to give everything.
“If we want to progress and be on the top, you need to challenge yourself against the best players. Neymar, Messi and Mbappe – I can tell you that after the game you cannot even walk. It’s good though and I know, here in the Premier League, there is the best players in the world. It’s a very good challenge to me.
“I had the chance to play against English clubs in the Champions League and the UEFA [Europa] Conference League last year. I can see the intensity here in England is higher. In France, I would say, if we talk tactically then it’s very compact. In England we see more goals, attacking into defending, and the fans love it. It’s very exciting stuff.”
With his transfer secured, Aguerd is eager to step onto the pitch for the first time in Claret and Blue. Having tested himself in the UEFA Europa Conference League with Rennes, the defender is ready to do the same in the 2022/23 season with West Ham.
“West Ham this year will play in the Europa Conference League. For me, we need to play every game, so I will do my best to help the team and to try to stay at the top.
“Why not try for the five places in the Premier League? We’ll see. It’s going to be hard, for sure, but we’ll do everything to make everyone happy.”
