A set-piece specialist known for his accurate, bending free kicks , [ 5 ] he primarily plays as an attacking midfielder , and is described as a player who is "blessed with terrific technique and dribbling skills".
In , he moved to metropolitan France , joining Le Havre. Following the season, in June , Payet joined the defending champions Lille signing a four-year contract. He had two years there and a further two at Olympique de Marseille before moving abroad to join West Ham United. In he moved back to France to join his old team, Marseille before leaving the club by mutual agreement in July , joining Brazilian side Vasco da Gama a month later.
Payet is a French international. From to , he represented his country at under level , making eleven appearances and scoring four goals. In , he was called up to the senior team by manager Laurent Blanc for the first time. While at Le Havre, Payet endured a tumultuous four years. While training at the club, he was accused of having a difficult character and displaying a lack of motivation.
Payet signed a two-year amateur deal with the club; however, Nantes were given the option of terminating the contract after six months. Upon his arrival at Nantes, Payet was placed in the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France Amateur , the fourth level of football in France.
In the —06 season, Payet quickly established himself as one of the best players on the reserve team. Payet made his professional debut on 19 December in a league match against Bordeaux appearing as a substitute in a 0—0 draw. The midfielder appeared as a substitute in the match and had been on the field for no more than two minutes before netting the goal.
