Jean-Clair Todibo played in his first Champions League game for Lens last night. He came on as a substitute in the 45th minute as the score was goalless against Club Brugge. However, Lens ended up losing 3-0 to the Belgian side, which has former West Ham United player Dan Potts in its lineup.
Todibo's performance was heavily criticized, and he has not made an impact in Ligue 1 this season either. He has made just three appearances for Lens in the league and has yet to play a full 90 minutes. In their last Ligue 1 match against Troyes, he had to come off after an hour due to injury.
Allez Lens wrote (translated from French), "He was supposed to be the undisputed leader of the Artois side’s backline... Todibo has become a genuine enigma... the French international now raises serious questions regarding the wisdom of his signing."
Despite his poor start to life at Lens, the West Ham United loanee will not be coming back to the London Stadium any time soon. Sébastien Denis of Foot Mercato posted on X: "For all the supporters who are asking me, there is currently no consideration at Lens regarding the early termination of Jean-Clair Todibo's loan."
Todibo will not have a future at West Ham after he fell out with Nuno Espírito Santo at the end of last season. The altercation happened after the defender was taken off after just 26 minutes, as West Ham lost to Newcastle United on the penultimate day of the Premier League season. That result all but confirmed West Ham's drop to the Championship.
West Ham fans will not want Todibo back
This season in the second tier, Dinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman have developed a strong partnership. The Hammers were lucky to keep hold of Mavropanos, and he cannot stop scoring. However, he continues to be linked with moves away from the club. Kilman's confidence has returned after a difficult previous campaign.
West Ham fans will like their back line to be strengthened in January, but not with Todibo coming back. They have Morato, but he has been used as a left-back rather than a centre-back so far. The only other options West Ham have in central defence right now are the young pair of Ezra Mayers and Airidas Golambeckis.
Todibo is still contracted to West Ham until 2029, and Lens does not have the option to buy him permanently. After what they have seen of him so far, they probably would not want to anyway. He has a very good CV, having played for France and Barcelona. However, he faces an uncertain future.
Over the summer, Todibo was linked with the likes of Juventus, Aston Villa, Olympique Marseille, Napoli, and Atlanta. It was thought that a return to France, where he has starred for Nice and Toulouse, would be a good fit for him. However, it has not worked out so far. Todibo is only 26, so he should be in his prime. If he cannot turn this around, then his career will continue to go on a downward spiral.
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