Dimitri Payet

Early career

Payet was born in Saint-Pierre on the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean and began his career at local club AS Saint-Philippe. While at the club as a youth, he was described by coaches as "a kid who stood out from his comrades" and, after three years of development training, moved to one of the best clubs on the island, JS Saint-Pierroise. After only a year at Saint-Pierroise, Payet was signed by professional club Le Havre in metropolitan France, with whom his club shared a mutual partnership. Le Havre also recruited former Saint-Pierroise players Florent Sinama Pongolle and Guillaume Hoarau during this period. While at Le Havre, Payet endured a tumultuous four years. While training at the club, he was accused of having a difficult character and displaying a lack of motivation. The accusations ultimately led to his departure in 2003 as Payet returned to Réunion to sign with AS Excelsior. He spent only a year and a half at Excelsior playing in the Réunion Premier League before being signed in January 2005 by Nantes who sought to give the player another opportunity to prove himself on the mainland. Payet signed a two-year amateur deal with the club; however, Nantes were given the option of terminating the contract after six months.

Nantes

Upon his arrival at Nantes, Payet was placed in the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France Amateur, the fourth level of football in France. In the 2005–06 season, Payet quickly established himself…

Youth

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

Senior

Payet was called up to the senior national team for the first time by Laurent Blanc for the Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Romania and Luxembourg. He made his debut in the former on 9 October 2010, coming on as a substitute for Karim Benzema in the 86th minute and assisted Yoann Gourcuff's goal to make it 2–0. Three days later, he came on for the last 30 minutes against Luxembourg and again assisted Gourcuff for a goal. Payet scored his first goal on 7 June 2015, coming on for Mathieu Valbuena in the 73rd minute to net France's third goal 16 minutes later, in a 4–3 home friendly defeat by Belgium. Six days later, Payet was substituted at half-time in a 1–0 away friendly defeat by Albania. Having been absent from the French squad since then, Payet was recalled in March 2016 for a squad to play the Netherlands and Russia. His performance on 25 March in a 3–2 win against the Netherlands in Amsterdam was praised by manager Didier Deschamps. Payet hit the post with a second-half shot and created six chances, more than double any other player. He also had the most touches of any player, with 89. Four days later, with his first touch after replacing Antoine Griezmann, he scored a 30-yard free kick…

Club

As of match played 15 April 2025

International

France score listed first, score column indicates score after each Payet goal

AS Excelsior

Coupe de la Réunion: 2004 Marseille

UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2017–18 France

UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2016 Individual

UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2012–13, 2014–15, 2021–22 Marseille Player of the Season: 2014–15, 2021–22 PFA Team of the Year: 2015–16 Premier League West Ham United Hammer of the Year: 2015–16 UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2016 Premier League Goal of the Month: October 2016 UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2017–18 UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2021–22 Orders

Knight of the National Order of Merit: 2022