Since arriving from Nice in 2024, the Frenchman hasn’t exactly lived up to his €40 million price tag. Part of struggling sides under Julen Lopetegui, Graham Potter, and Nuno Espírito Santo, Todibo has been just another example of the Irons splashing the cash on a star who failed to prove his worth.

And the real kicker is that, at times, the 26-year-old has shown that he has the potential to be worth that money. Todibo had some excellent outings at the start of the 2024/25 season, putting in Man of the Match displays against Ipswich and Brentford. However, as the season progressed, his flaws became exposed and he endured a really poor 2025 in claret and blue.

However, since Nuno’s arrival, I’d argue that Todibo was one of the Hammers’ most improved players of last season. He was finally putting in consistently solid displays, with games like the draw at Manchester United standing out among his best performances.

He still didn’t quite look like a €40 million defender, but he at least looked like a €25 million defender. He showed talent on the ball, he was superb in one-v-one situations, and his aerial ability improved drastically.

He has looked a good player for a while now, but there is still one thing holding him back: his attitude.

According to an article by The Athletic providing insight into the behind-the-scenes events of last season, it was revealed that Todibo had a falling-out with boss Nuno. This followed the Hammers’ 3–1 loss to Newcastle in their final away game of the season, where the centre-back was substituted after 25 minutes.

The decision was made to change the Irons’ shape after a disastrous start at St James’ Park, which saw West Ham go 2–0 down inside the first twenty minutes. Todibo was the defender sacrificed, and he reportedly told Nuno that “he would not play for him again”.

Although the decision was harsh, and the poor team set-up in that game was entirely on the manager, Todibo’s attitude exemplifies a key factor in his failure in East London. Some players fell out with Lopetegui; more fell out with Potter, and fewer with Nuno. Only Todibo completed the trifecta. And if what he said to Nuno is true, it is truly petulant on his part.

One could argue that, after his improved performances, Todibo was unlucky to lose his spot to the incoming Axel Disasi. But upon Disasi’s arrival, the team kept clean sheets – something they had consistently failed to do with Todibo at the back.

He will be gone in the summer, probably back to continental Europe. But his legacy at West Ham will always be associated with disappointment. Rarely has the initial signing of a defender generated such excitement among Hammers fans.

He was one of Europe’s most promising centre-backs. He had been on the books of Barcelona. Well, we can now see why he still isn’t playing his football at Camp Nou. There is a good player there. But sadly, you can’t feud with three consecutive managers and expect things to work out.