The impact Axel Disasi has made to West Ham United’s defence needs no introduction – three clean sheets now in five Premier League outings – but Wednesday’s win at Fulham showcased the other, more underrated side of his game.
Chelsea loanee Disasi averages the most passes per game at West Ham United [42], as well as the highest pass accuracy [90 per cent].
But do not be fooled into thinking Axel Disasi, who started alongside compatriot Jean-Clair Todibo for the first time, simply rolls the ball sideways and backwards, his pass map made up purely of vertical lines.
A big call from Nuno! What did you make of JC?!
As West Ham saw off Fulham at Craven Cottage – moving level on points with Nottingham Forest in 17th – the France international played a vital role in beating Marco Silva’s press, playing through the lines, and helping the visitors to get up the pitch.
Something they struggled with badly towards the back end of 2025.
Axel Disasi’s direct passing is so important to West Ham United
It was a night of surprising contrasts in West London.
Jean-Clair Todibo made eight more clearances than Disasi across the 90-plus minutes, while Disasi looked the more natural ball-player of the two. Considering the respective reputations of both Frenchmen – Disasi a physical powerhouse and Todibo a silky line-breaker taught in the Barcelona school of ball-playing – their performances showcased alternative sides to both of Nuno’s central defenders.
In the opening few minutes, Disasi started as he meant to go on. Striding forwards down the left-hand side of the pitch, he pinged a gorgeous diagonal right across the field into the path of Jarrod Bowen.
This was something the five-time France international did frequently.
West Ham occasionally opted to go long rather than play through the midfield – Crysencio Summerville’s ‘magnificent’ winner came from a high ball upfield and a mix-up in the Fulham defence – and Disasi’s ability to pick out a man at distance, even when surrounded by white shirts, came in extremely handy.
Disasi and Taty Castellanos make the Hammers ‘completely different’
Take, for instance, the time he fizzed the ball into Taty Castellanos eight minutes after Summerville’s opener.
Bypassing the Fulham press, and with West Ham’s wide players looking to break in behind, another accurate Disasi drive and a clever Castellanos flick around the corner highlighted how much more effective the Hammers are at getting up the pitch these; their two January signings bringing a directness, a purpose and the attributes required when up against a team either pushing up or sitting deep in a low block.
Disasi attempted the most passes on the night – 54 – and completed 88 per cent of them. In fact, this has been a theme of his recent outings. Drilled passes played with pace into the midfield or out wide.
Fulham boss Marco Silva feels West Ham are a ‘completely different’ team with Disasi and Castellanos on board.
A better team, certainly. A more effective, varied, unpredictable outfit.
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