CFR Cluj terminate Kurt Zouma's contract

What was meant to be the season’s most spectacular transfer has ended swiftly as CFR Cluj and Kurt Zouma terminated their contract by mutual agreement. The 31-year-old former Chelsea and West Ham defender arrived in September 2025 as a marquee signing for owner Ioan Varga, but his tenure proved incredibly expensive and underwhelming.

Plagued by injuries, the Champions League winner managed only four appearances, totaling 197 minutes. His final outing saw a late collapse against Dinamo Bucharest. Financially, Zouma benefited significantly, leaving with approximately €250,000 in total earnings, comprising his €50,000 monthly salary and a compensation package.

The club officially announced the separation on Facebook, wishing him the best of luck. Ultimately, Zouma’s physical limitations prevented him from displaying the form that once valued him at €35 million, making the high-profile experiment a lucrative failure for the player but a regretful misstep for the Transylvanian side.