Viviane Asseyi returned home after West Ham’s 3‑0 defeat to Brighton and, as usual, called her mother to discuss the match. “She was just laughing,” she said, recalling how her mum would tease her about the game’s outcome but also remind her that she could always talk about what was good or bad. The conversation, which has become a ritual for the forward, helped Asseyi keep a positive mindset after a frustrating loss in which the Hammers dominated possession yet struggled to convert chances.
Born in France to Gabonese parents, Asseyi grew up surrounded by African culture and a family that shared meals, music and laughter every Sunday. She first asked her mother for a football at the age of four, inspired by France’s 1998 World Cup triumph over Brazil. “I wanted to be like Zidane,” she recalled, and her mother bought her a cheap plastic ball, which she insisted on upgrading to a real one. Despite her teachers’ skepticism—women’s football was barely visible at the time—Asseyi remained determined. “I always said I wanted to be a professional footballer,” she said, and her friends, who also played, supported her ambition.
Her talent earned her a place at the national football centre in Clairefontaine, a prestigious academy that has produced stars such as Kylian Mbappé. “When the letter arrived, my family cried,” she remembered, describing the moment as a dream come true. At Clairefontaine, boys and girls trained together, and Asseyi forged friendships with future internationals, including goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and Portuguese winger Raphaël Guerreiro.
After leaving the academy, Asseyi’s career took her to several French clubs—Rouen, Montpellier, Marseille and Bordeaux—before a two‑year spell in Germany with Bayern Munich. She moved to London in 2022, signing for West Ham, where she has now made 117 appearances and is close to breaking Kate Longhurst’s record of 130 WSL appearances for the club. As a vice‑captain and one of the most experienced players, she speaks of the club’s supportive culture: “When you feel valued by everyone, you want to give everything.”
West Ham have won only two of their first seven league games, and Asseyi says consistency is lacking. “It’s sometimes mental and sometimes about the small details,” she explained, noting that the team returns to training with a positive attitude despite setbacks. She also highlights the importance of her role as a visible Black female footballer. “I didn’t realise how much I could inspire people until I started hearing from fans on social media,” she said. “I’m happy if I can inspire anyone and will do my best to do it more.”
With the season progressing, Asseyi remains focused on improving the team’s performance and continuing to serve as a role model for young girls who look up to her on and off the pitch.