Jean-Clair Todibo makes Aston Villa admission ahead of West Ham debut

The new man arrived in east London yesterday but is already looking ahead to the new Premier League season – which kicks off next weekend

New West Ham United signing Jean Clair-Todibo is looking forward to the prospect of facing Aston Villa on the Premier League’s opening weekend.

Todibo – who is a France international – made the switch from French outfit Nice yesterday for a reported fee of €40 m (£32.3m) and is already relishing the challenge ahead of him. He was part of Ligue 1’s best defence last season – which no doubt helped him secure a move this summer.

Speaking to West Ham’s official website , he said: “It is an exciting game next week too because Aston Villa is a really good team in this league and I hope we can win this game at home.”

Unai Emery’s attacking options will potentially face an expensive central defensive partnership – worth a combined £72m – at the London Stadium next weekend with summer signing and fellow defender Max Kilman making the switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the window.

Former Germany captain and legendary defender Lothar Matthäus once described the 24-year-old as the ‘best centre-back’ he had seen for a long time. Since then Todibo’s career did not take the upward trajectory once associated with him but after difficult spells in Catalonia and Gelsenkirchen he found form on the French Riviera – which Hammers’ fans will be hoping continues this term.

The former Barcelona and Schalke centre-back described his mentality on defending describing himself as a ‘pure defender’.

“I love defence and I don’t want to concede goals. That’s my job and then after with the ball, I am someone with confidence. The club has built a really good team to compete in the high level of the league, so I hope we are going to do it. I’m really excited to meet my teammates and get going. Now the season starts next week, so I need to see them, to meet them, and start to work with them.”

Villa’s forwards – notably Ollie Watkins – who scored in Villa’s 4-1 win over West Ham last season – will undoubtedly still back themselves to perform against quality centre-backs next week.