Mark Robson might not have done Mohamadou Kante much of a favour when he likened West Ham United’s French starlet to Premier League icon and former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira.
But while the Hammers’ academy manager Kenny Brown stopped short of repeating such comparisons this week, he did go some way to explaining why Robson might have had a point.
And who knows, while Tim Steidten is not exactly Mr Popular at West Ham United right now, perhaps Mohamadou Kante could become the German’s legacy in East London.
Kante joined from Paris FC for a reported £500,000 in 2024, on Steidten’s watch.
After helping his old employers earn promotion to Ligue 1 after returning on loan, the 20-year-old finally made the move across the Channel over the summer.
And it is fair to say the West Ham fans like what they see with Mohamadou Kante. An imposing physical presence at 5ft 10ins, he stands out head and shoulders – sometimes literally – above the rest of the youngsters in Under-21 football.
Mark Robson made those Patrick Vieira comparisons after a 2-0 victory over Woking in August.
Kante scored on his Hammers U21 debut that day, showcasing a formidable combination of power and finesse. The kind of which Vieira used to dominate many a Premier League midfield in his Arsenal heyday.
Kenny Brown says West Ham United starlet Mohamadou Kante is Premier League-made
Two months on from that flying start to life in claret and blue, Kante was rewarded with a contract extension until the summer of 2031.
That West Ham were determined to tie him down to a longer deal, only a year after he signed his first one, speaks volumes about how highly he is regarded. Presumably, in and outside of East London, for that matter.
And Brown, who has helped oversee the development of Freddie Potts, George Earthy, Callum Marshall and Ollie Scarles since his appointment in 2023, shares Robson’s view that there is a ‘modern Premier League midfielder’ waiting to burst out of the Kante chrysalis.
“I think what probably surprised everyone was how quickly he settled in,” Brown tells the club’s official website. “It wouldn’t have been easy because he went straight away with the first team to Germany, then to the States, so he didn’t come into the Under-21s set-up until late in pre-season.
“He hadn’t played any minutes, so to see where he is now in such a short period of time has been really encouraging. He looks like he’s enjoying his football, and the way he’s now taking control of games at Under-21s level is promising.
“Physically, he’s an athlete. That is the modern profile of a Premier League midfielder. You’ve got to have energy, cover ground and have presence, but he’s more than that. He’s got real ability on the ball and can score goals.
“It’s been an excellent start for him. There’s still a lot to learn as he continues developing, but he’s really well thought of in the dressing room and among the staff. He comes in with a big smile on his face and works hard every day. We’re delighted to have extended his contract and secured him for the long term.”
Mark Robson likened Kante to Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira
West Ham’s rising star is not shying away from setting himself some rather ambitious goals during his maiden campaign on English soil. He hopes to end 2025/26 with 20 goals and assists from the middle of the park. The Paris-born dynamo has four already – two apiece – from just nine appearances.
And while towering centre-back Airidas Golambeckis is West Ham’s captain at Under-21 level these days, Kante was chosen to lead the team out during the recent 3-1 EFL Trophy defeat by Reading. Clearly, in addition to the ‘energy, presence [and] real ability on the ball’ highlighted by Brown, Kante possesses an ability to lead by example too.
As Arsenal’s skipper from 2002 to 2005, there’s another Vieira-ism to add to the collection.
“Mo is a big boy. A couple of times when he pressed, he’s got these long legs and he just nicked the ball off people, really clever,” Robson said. “He’s like a Patrick Vieira kind of central midfield player.”
Kante ‘really proud’ as he signs new West Ham deal
While fellow Frenchman Soungoutou Magassa is taking his time adapting to life in England, Kante himself admits that the sheer chest-thumping brutality of football this side of the sea has taken him aback, even if he looks a lot better placed to deal with it than most his age.
“Physically, I’ve always had good stamina, but here it’s another level. I’m making progress in that area and working harder for it too; the training sessions are more intense,” Kante says.
“We’re working hard in the gym and on the pitch, and I’m feeling better and better. Even tactically, I’m learning all the time and think I’m improving and getting stronger.”
“My relationship with my teammates is developing really well. Communicating can still be a bit tricky, but we understand each other. I’ve been taking English classes, and even off the pitch we can chat together, which is great.
“It makes me really proud [to sign a new contract]. I have to keep working hard and pushing myself. When you’re focused on improving every day, that’s all you think about, so I’m very happy and I thank the club for the confidence they’ve shown in me.”
