As the Ligue 1 transfer window concluded on Monday, we analyze which clubs emerged stronger and which faced setbacks in France`s premier football league.
Ligue 1`s Winners
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain, though not overtly busy, made strategic moves that enhance squad quality and future-proof the club. The highly-rated Lucas Chevalier joined, seen as the potential successor to Mike Maignan for the national team`s No.1 spot. His superior distribution and footwork are a clear upgrade on Gianluigi Donnarumma, with the club seemingly hoping Donnarumma`s recent form was an anomaly. If Chevalier adapts quickly, Donnarumma`s position could be challenged. Illia Zabarnyi also appears to be a strong candidate to eventually replace Marquinhos at centre-back, especially if the Brazilian departs at season`s end.
Equally crucial was the clearing of `deadwood` from the squad. Permanent exits included Nordi Mukiele, Marco Asensio, Carlos Soler, Milan Skriniar, and Arnau Tenas. Randal Kolo Muani, Gabriel Moscardo, and Renato Sanches moved on loan, with their futures to be assessed later. Overall, it was a constructive window for PSG.
Monaco
AS Monaco`s transfer activity involved some calculated risks. Paul Pogba, returning after a two-year absence, and Ansu Fati, who has struggled with injuries and inconsistent form since his Barcelona breakthrough (where he was once seen as Lionel Messi`s heir), represent speculative acquisitions. However, more reliable additions include Eric Dier, who quickly integrated into the defense, providing vital experience and stability. Lukas Hradecky is expected to be an improvement in goal, despite facing an initial injury layoff.
While valuable players like Eliesse Ben Seghir, Wilfried Singo, and Breel Embolo have departed, the club`s shrewdest move might be retaining Maghnes Akliouche. Beyond PSG, Akliouche is now arguably Ligue 1`s brightest young talent and could be instrumental in achieving Monaco`s goals.
Marseille
Olympique de Marseille`s summer was, as usual, eventful. The club saw numerous departures: Luis Henrique, Jonathan Rowe, Quentin Merlin, Azzedine Ounahi, Valentin Rongier, Pau Lopez, Ismael Koné, and Adrien Rabiot. Ideally, OM would have liked to keep Rabiot, who was pivotal last season, but a reported dressing room altercation with Rowe ended his time at the Vélodrome. Aside from Henrique, Rabiot, and arguably Rongier, the other departures were deemed replaceable, and Marseille has done well to reinforce.
The list of arrivals is extensive: Igor Paixao, Nayef Aguerd, Arthur Vermeeren, Benjamin Pavard, Facundo Medina, Matt O’Riley, Timothy Weah, Emerson, Angel Gomes, CJ Egan-Riley, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Hamed Traoré. Aubameyang, returning from a season in Saudi Arabia, quickly found his scoring touch, netting twice in the first three matches. However, the most significant improvements are in defense. Last season, defense was a concern under Roberto De Zerbi, but the Italian now has the necessary personnel to build a solid, functional backline. The transfer window also significantly boosted squad depth, a crucial factor given OM`s European commitments this season.
Strasbourg
Excluding last season`s loanees, RC Strasbourg Alsace welcomed an astonishing 14 new players. True to BlueCo`s youth-focused strategy, nearly all new recruits are 22 or younger. The significant exception is Ben Chilwell, a deadline-day signing and by far the most experienced player in this incredibly young squad. Arrivals include Julio Enciso, Joaquín Panichelli, Lucas Hogsberg, Mathis Amougou, Soumaila Coulibaly, Pape Demba Diop, Ishé Samuels-Smith (who briefly joined before returning to Chelsea), Martial Godo, Maxi Odeyele, Stefan Bajic, Mike Penders, Kendry Paez, and Rafael Luís. Andrew Omobamidele, Valentín Barco, and Samuel Amo-Ameyaw completed permanent transfers, while Mamadou Sarr rejoined on loan from Chelsea.
Manager Liam Rosenior expressed satisfaction: “I said at the start of the summer that we’d have a stronger squad. With one day left, I think we are there.” However, the deadline-day departure of Dilane Bakwa, alongside Habib Diarra and other fringe players, represents a significant loss. While the starting XI might have slightly less individual quality, the crucial outcome is a vastly increased squad depth, essential for competing on multiple fronts this season.
Ligue 1`s Losers
Nice
OGC Nice`s sporting director, Florian Maurice, candidly called the club`s transfer window “unpleasant,” a sentiment well-justified. Several targeted transfers collapsed, such as Ransford Konigsdorffer`s move from Hamburg due to a failed medical. Mahdi Camara, who had agreed terms with Nice and had a club agreement in place with Stade Brestois, was snatched by Stade Rennais at the last minute with a superior offer. Efforts to sign AJ Auxerre`s Lassine Sinayoko also stalled, as Auxerre grew dissatisfied with Nice`s approach. Compounding these issues were the departures of last season`s two most talented players, Evann Guessand and Marcin Bulka.
Given budget constraints, their replacements were necessarily modest. New arrivals like Isak Jansson, Yehvann Diouf, Charles Vanhoutte, Kevin Carlos, Kojo Peprah Oppong, Salis Abdul Samed, Gabin Bernardeau, Juma Bah (loan), and Tiago Gouveia (loan) bring limited experience, particularly in Ligue 1. This has seemingly impacted early results, with Nice losing two of their first three matches. Maurice acknowledges the new signings haven`t yet met expectations, stating: “It is very difficult to make an assessment. It was a difficult window, but not just for Nice. We can speak about it later, even if I’m waiting for better, not just from the signings. We know that, for some players, notably those who have joined from abroad, it can take time.”
Brest
Stade Brestois` squad has been significantly weakened by a wave of departures, a consequence largely predicted due to financial difficulties. Last season, the club relied heavily on numerous loan signings for their UEFA Champions League campaign, but few could be made permanent. Abdallah Sima, Soumaila Coulibaly, Romain Faivre, Edimilson Fernandes, and Ibrahim Salah all returned to their parent clubs. Ludovic Ajorque was a notable exception, making his loan spell permanent.
The midfield, too, suffered major losses, with Mahdi Camara and, more crucially, Pierre Lees-Melou departing in the window`s final weeks. Jonas Martin`s exit further reduced manager Eric Roy`s options. Other departures included Mathias Pereira Lage, Massadio Haidara, and Marco Bizot. Bizot`s replacement, Radoslaw Majecki on loan from Monaco, appears to be a downgrade based on early performances.
While Brest did scramble to bring in players late on, with Joris Chotard and Junior Dina Ebimbe looking like decent acquisitions, alongside Pathé Mboup, Daouda Guindo, Lucas Toussart, Junior Díaz, and Rémy Labeau Lascary, these efforts haven`t prevented a clear reduction in both squad depth and overall quality compared to last year.
Angers
One can`t help but sympathize with SCO Angers. A key reason for Alexandre Dujeux`s side staying up last season was Esteban Lepaul, who left late in the window for Stade Rennais. This departure was a significant blow, worsened by Angers` subsequent failure to secure a replacement. Rémy Labeau Lascary had actually joined, signed his contract, been presented, and trained with the team. However, an official statement revealed that despite Lepaul`s exit, the wage bill – capped by the DNCG (French football`s financial watchdog) – could not be increased. Consequently, Labeau-Lascary`s contract, along with a potential deal for Steve Mounié, was not approved.
This disastrous turn of events leaves Angers heavily reliant on academy talents like Prosper Peter for the upcoming season. Furthermore, goalkeeper Yahia Fofana`s situation also proved problematic. Angers reportedly set his asking price too high, deterring interested clubs. After the window closed, he ultimately departed on a free transfer to Turkish side Rizespor, though Le Sco retained a 50% sell-on clause. With only two arrivals, Louis Mouton and Hervé Koffi, this transfer window could prove very costly for Angers.
Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais experienced a mixed transfer window. It was anticipated to be challenging, as Lyon was compelled to sell players to meet financial commitments to the DNCG (French football`s financial watchdog) and UEFA. This led to the departure of several key figures. Alexandre Lacazette left upon contract expiry, and the club was also forced to sell Rayan Cherki to Manchester City. Lucas Perri represents a significant loss in goal, while the exits of Jordan Veretout and Nemanja Matic reduced midfield options for manager Paulo Fonseca.
Despite the constraints, some positive business was conducted. Fonseca expressed being “pleasantly surprised” by OL`s activity. Tyler Morton, a promising acquisition from Liverpool, settled in immediately. Other arrivals included Pavel Sulc, Dominik Greif, Ruben Kluivert, Afonso Moreira, Adam Karabec, and Martín Satriano.
While the overall strategy seemed coherent, the major concern is Georges Mikautadze’s deadline-day departure. Lyon needed to generate more funds, but his €30m move to Villarreal leaves the team without a proven goalscorer heading into the season. Martín Satriano`s previous spell at Brest did not suggest he could fill this void, making the source of goals a significant question mark. In a tough financial climate, Lyon`s window perhaps exceeded low expectations, yet the team undoubtedly emerges weaker overall.
