Chancel Mbemba, the 30-year-old former Marseille defender, has been a free agent since the beginning of July. However, his search for a new club is facing significant hurdles, primarily due to his substantial financial demands.
The Congolese international last featured for Marseille in the summer of 2023. His time with the club ended amidst a dispute with the hierarchy, which led to his suspension and subsequent exclusion from the first team under both Marcelino and Roberto De Zerbi. Despite maintaining fitness by training with the reserves and playing for DR Congo during international breaks, Mbemba did not register a single minute of play for OM throughout the entire 2024/25 season.
Now officially without a contract, the former Porto player recently conveyed his farewell to Marseille. He posted on social media: “L’histoire se referme. Merci pour tout Marseille bébé !” (The story closes. Thank you for everything, Marseille baby!). This emotional message followed his insistence in June that he had “respected the club and the contract.”
This summer has seen several clubs, including newly promoted Paris FC and teams from the Gulf region, express interest in Mbemba. Nevertheless, reports indicate that Mbemba has turned down these offers. He is reportedly seeking a salary exceeding the estimated €320,000 per month he earned at Marseille, in addition to a significant signing bonus. This high asking price has, so far, deterred potential suitors, despite previous interest from Ligue 1 clubs such as Montpellier and Rennes over the past year.
The Kinshasa-born defender remains determined to continue his career in Europe. He is diligently continuing individual preparation, confident in his ability to secure a club in the coming weeks. However, having been out of club football for over a year, his window of opportunity may be gradually narrowing.
