Kurt Zouma ‘terminates contract’ to leave Romanian side after playing just four games

Kurt Zouma has reportedly left CFR Cluj after playing just four games for the Romanian side.

The French defender signed for CFR back in September following his release from West Ham earlier in the year.

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However, Zouma, who signed a two-year deal with the Liga I team with the option for a further two years, is said to have left the club.

CFR Cluj head coach Daniel Pancu revealed that negotiations were underway between player and club to terminate the defender’s contract early.

“Zouma, I know there were discussions between him and the club to find a solution for him to leave. And that’s about it,” Pancu said last month.

And former CFR Director of Football Daniel Stanciu has told Romanian media that the 31-year-old has now left.

“Yes, I understand that he resigned. He had a very high salary,” Stanciu told Romanian outlet Digi Sport Special.

Zouma’s apparent exit marks what has been a disastrous spell for the former France international.

The former Chelsea man was brought to the CFR Cluj Stadium with a huge reputation.

The move, though, has been nothing short of a disaster for Zouma, who last featured for CFR back in October.

Zouma was brought on as a late sub with CFR 1-0 up at Dinamo Bucuresti.

The Red Dogs, though, turned the game on its head in second half injury time as a late quickfire double from Mamoudou Karamoko and Alberto Soro saw Dinamo Bucuresti claim a 2-1 victory.

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CFR won only one of the four games that Zouma featured in, that coming in a 4-0 win at CFM Slatina.

Zouma’s previous transgressions

Zouma came through the Saint-Etienne ranks and made his senior debut at just 16 years of age in 2011.

In 2013, the defender was banned for 10 games after a challenge on Sochaux’s Thomas Guerbert, which left the midfielder with a broken leg and a dislocated ankle.

And following his move to West Ham in 2021, Zouma was rarely far from controversy.

In February 2022, footage emerged of Zouma kicking, slapping and throwing objects at his cat.

While the defender apologised for his actions and insisted that the pet cats were “fine and healthy”, the incident was condemned by the RSPCA and West Ham.

In April that year, Zouma pleaded guilty to two counts to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Zouma was order to carry out 180 hours of community service, pay £9,000 in court costs and banned from keeping cats for five years.

West Ham also fined Zouma £250,000 for the abuse, while the former Saint-Etienne man was ditched by Adidas.

In December 2023, Zouma and his family were victims of a burglary while at home as an armed gang broke in and stole £100,000 worth of cash and jewellery.

And in 2024, Zouma’s agent, Saif Alrubie, was charged with sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety to Chelsea director, Marina Granovskaia.

In April 2024, Alrubie was found not guilty of the offence.