#42 Dimitri Payet
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Last campaign was no surprise to those who know their football; Dimitri Payet has always possessed the ability. However, many doubted his ability to bring it to the biggest of stages. It needed an educated gamble from a brainy Bilic and a season sprinkled with surprise for it to surface.
His performances at Euro 2016 were particularly sensational, as the Frenchman scored three goals, created a total of 24 chances and maintained an average passing accuracy of 84% on the way to final of the tournament, splitting open a particularly cagey affair against Romania on the first day of the tournament.
Payet was arguably the main cog in the West Ham wheel last term, making 12 assists throughout the course of the campaign, igniting the Hammers’ charge for European football. The Frenchman was symbolic of a transfer policy West Ham boss Slaven Bilic raves about – signing players at a mature age. Payet was snapped up for just over £10 million at 28-years-of-age last term and epitomises that players at this stage of their career are often at their peak.
It’s tough to name a midfielder who has had a more influential season than the former-Marseille player. Payet may not have won a lot during his career, but he is now essential to his teams both domestically and internationally. He has potential in abundance and is technically gifted whether he is striking a fearsome free-kick or navigating his way past a field of players.
