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By GETHIN HICKS, TRAINEE REPORTER Published: 20: 10 AEST, 7 October 2025 | Updated: 01: 11 AEST, 8 October 2025 2 View comments Former West Ham United defender Nayef Aguerd was the victim of an attack this week on his way to international duty. The Moroccan centre-back, who now plies his trade in Ligue 1 with Marseille, had been at the airport in southern France when a fan 'attempted to slap' him. Local reports suggested the attacker had initially asked Aguerd, 29, for a selfie before turning violent. But the centre-back, who made some 61 appearances for the Hammers, assured supporters on Tuesday that he wasn't injured during the ordeal. Taking to Instagram, he wrote: 'I want to reassure everyone following the information that has been circulating for the last few fours that I was indeed assaulted at Marignane airport while waiting for my flight to join the Moroccan national team. 'Fortunately it was a scare more than anything else and everything was quickly resolved thanks to the intervention of security personnel and law enforcement. Former West Ham United defender Nayef Aguerd was the victim of an attack this week on his way to international duty The Moroccan centre-back, who now plies his trade in Ligue 1 with Marseille, had been at the airport in southern France when a fan 'attempted to slap' him 'Everything is now in the hands of the police. I'm doing well and I'm now focused on what matters most to me: playing for OM and representing my country with pride. Let's always be calm and respectful, life goes on. ' Aguerd will join up with former and current Premier League stars Sofyan Amrabat and Noussair Mazaraoui in Marrakesh for his country's upcoming games against Bahrain and Congo. The defender spent two seasons in east London after joining West Ham in a £30million move from Rennes in the summer of 2022. Having made 61 appearances and scored four goals for the Hammers, he was shipped out to Real Sociedad last term on a season-long loan. When Aguerd returned to the London Stadium this summer, Graham Potter saw no future for him at the club and decided to let him leave on a permanent deal. Marseille eventually snapped him up for a fee of around £20million after Roberto De Zerbi - who has also brought Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the club - expressed his desire to sign the dominant defender. Speaking about the move, Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia said: 'It's not just because of me that Aguerd is here. The truth is, the coach wanted him. 'In the United States when the coach saw him during pre-season he said, "stop everything, I want Nayef Aguerd. "' Aguerd however later confirmed that he didn't suffer any injuries during the attack The defender left West Ham to join Marseille this summer after impressing Roberto De Zerbi during pre-season Marseille have enjoyed a promising start to the season under the former Brighton manager, currently sitting in second place after their opening seven games. They're just one point behind French giants PSG.
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