By Conor Hogan

In recent weeks, Jean-Clair Todibo has been superb for West Ham.

The Frenchman finally looks worth the £40 million the Irons invested in him, delivering a series of excellent performances. 

Against Newcastle and Manchester United in particular, Todibo stood out — composed on the ball, strong in the tackle and dominant in the air.

Before this resurgence, Todibo was often labelled a liability, producing several poor displays in 2025 that made his hefty price tag look embarrassing. 

But the 25-year-old has undergone a complete transformation, and there is growing hope he can become a defender West Ham can rely on long-term.

If that happens, his trajectory in East London could mirror that of a modern Hammers great: Angelo Ogbonna.

Ogbonna, one of West Ham’s best Premier League-era defenders, joined from Juventus in 2015. While fans fondly remember his last-minute winner in the FA Cup against Liverpool from that season, his early league form was shaky. 

Like Todibo, Ogbonna often looked uncertain at the back, with his errors masked by the reliability of Winston Reid and James Collins.

Todibo hasn’t had that luxury. With Konstantinos Mavropanos injured and Max Kilman out of form, he has been forced to raise his level — and he now looks like West Ham’s strongest centre-back, playing a key role in the defence’s revival under Nuno Espírito Santo.

Ogbonna needed two seasons to become a dependable rock at West Ham, so Todibo may still require time before showing that same week-to-week consistency.

But if he reaches the standards the Italian set in his later years, he could become a major asset for the Irons for seasons to come.