West Ham co-chairman reveals players wanted Payet gone

Once it became apparent Dimitri Payet no longer felt like playing for West Ham, the club's players "wanted him out," according to co-chairman David Sullivan.

The Hammers finally unloaded the disgruntled midfielder on Marseille for £25 million late Sunday after rejecting several bids from the south coast outfit.

Sullivan said the fee was below West Ham's valuation of the player, but the toxicity of the situation forced the east London side to do a deal.

"He's not been talking to anyone in the squad. He's been sitting in the corner of the room for his meals and he's isolated himself. Before that he was bubbly, happy, shaking everyone's hand before the match," Sullivan told BBC Radio 5 live. "Either it was a tactic or something in his head had changed.

"The team wanted him out, the manager - with great reluctance - wanted him out. We think it's bonded the team better together."

Sullivan confirmed an earlier report from Sky Sports suggesting Payet had returned wages totaling £500,000 for the month of January. Sending him to the club's reserves was also an option, even if it would've cost West Ham several million pounds just to make a point of Payet.

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"You've got to take a sensible view - the offer was just about what we could accept," said the 67-year-old businessman. "I can't say I'm pleased with it. It's a damage limitation deal.

Payet said he would have "lived" with life at London Stadium if he hadn't sealed his return to Marseille, where he previously played between 2013 and 2015.

But he refused to apologise for the last few weeks, saying he did not have to "justify my behaviour."

Payet's numbers slumped since last season's breakthrough, his influence decreasing by the month.

He registered just two goals in his final 18 Premier League appearances.