Thilo Kehrer Will Bring Versatility In Bucketloads To West Ham
West Ham have ventured into the transfer market for the sixth time of the summer window, signing versatile defender Thilo Kehrer from Paris Saint-Germain for an initial fee of £10 million.
The 25-year-old lands in East London following four seasons at the Parc des Princes, where he made 128 appearances and won six domestic trophies.
“He’s a talented player, who can play in a number of defensive positions, adding strength and depth to our current options,” said David Moyes of the Germany international.
Kehrer joins West Ham in the middle of a backline injury crisis, with Craig Dawson (thigh), Angelo Ogbonna (knee), and Nayef Aguerd (ankle) unavailable to start the season.
Kurt Zouma is also far from full fitness and hobbled around the pitch in West Ham’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday [14 August].
Considering recent departures from the London Stadium, Kehrer’s arrival could not have come at a better time, with the Hammers moving on from Issa Diop and Arthur Masuaku last week.
But what should West Ham fans expect from their new No. 24? Let’s find out.
Positional Versatility:
Kehrer has amassed 17,589 minutes of professional experience, earning the lion’s share of his match time in central defence. However, the 1996-born defender is also comfortable at full-back and in deeplying midfield.
He spent most of last season playing right-back for club and country but is unlikely to reprise the role in 2022-23, with Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson penned in Moyes’ plans.
Instead, Kehrer is set to return to centre-back and will compete for starts with Zouma and Aguerd once they rediscover full fitness.
Physical Advantages:
The 1996-born defender’s athleticism is a major part of his skill set. He is quick off the mark, capable of keeping pace with rapid forwards, and unwavering in battles of strength.
Kehrer’s footspeed is an asset on both sides of the transition, allowing him to cover or exploit space depending on the situation at hand.
In the opening exchanges of a Ligue 1 fixture between Troyes and PSG, he used his explosiveness to intercept a cross at full stretch, thwarting a clear-cut chance:
The German’s pace is also an asset in the final third, as he demonstrated in PSG’s Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich in 2020:
Alphonso Davies is one of the fastest players in elite football, Kehrer’s ability to keep pace with him will be a major asset for West Ham — especially when Moyes releases the handbrake at the expense of being vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Aggressive Defending:
Also of note: Kehrer takes a very active approach to defending — which can be a blessing and a curse.
In an exhibition match between PSG and Sevilla, the 6’1” defender nipped in front of his counterpart to create a turnover for his side.
Kehrer’s defensive statistics jump off the page as a result:
63.8 percent defensive duels won — 7.89 per 90
4.71 interceptions per 90
52.6 percent aerial deuls won — 3.68 per 90
9.61 ball recoveries per 90 — 23.4 percent in the attacking half
However, his aggressiveness can also backfire. He averages 1.3 fouls per 90 and is sometimes caught out of position. In a 2-0 win over Israel in March, Kehrer’s enthusiasm bubbled over, conceding a needless foul in the attacking third:
For better or worse, he is a high-event player. Moyes must embrace it.
Advanced Ball-Playing:
The three-time champion of Ligue 1 is an active ball-player too.
Kehrer has averaged 58.44 passes per 90 throughout his career, with almost half being progressive attempts.
Moreover, his 92 percent success rate is impressive for a defender and evidence of his technical proficiency. In a 2-1 win over OCG Nice in 2021, the former PSG man demonstrated his ability to cause havoc in the final third, driving a cross towards the far post:
Although ball-playing is not the German’s greatest strength, he is a significant upgrade on Dawson and will help West Ham improve in possession as their evolution under Moyes continues.
Considering the small transfer fee involved, he is a very impressive signing for the Hammers.
Thilo Kehrer is West Ham’s sixth arrival of the summer, following:
Born in Brentwood, Made in the EFL: How Will Flynn Downes Help West Ham?
Guess Who’s Back? Alphonse Areola Joins West Ham (Permanently, This Time)
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