OL, Frankfurt, Genoa, SDR
Everything you need to know after the last day of the winter transfer window, including Orel Mangala in Lyon, Hugo Ekitike away from PSG, Vitinha leaving OM and Benjamin Stambouli signing for Reims.
That’s it, it’s over… Started on January 1, the transfer window ended Thursday at 11 p.m. in France. A relatively calm transfer window overall, like PSG, which found a way out Hugo Ekitike, loaned to Frankfurt, but did not announce a new recruit on this last day of the winter transfer window. Ekitike is one of the notable departures of the day in Ligue 1, with obviously that of Marseillais Vitinha, loaned to Genoa. News which should not disturb Parisian and Marseille supporters. FC Strasbourg fans are certainly asking more questions after the transfer of the Belgian goalkeeper Matz Salts at Nottingham Forest. Especially since only the experienced Matthew Dreyer, defector from Saint-Etienne (L2), arrived at this position. Amazing. A time announced leaving, the international tricolor of OM Jonathan Claushe ultimately did not move.
For the rest, the Montpellier Maxime Estève head to Burnley, like Rennais Lorenz Assignonthe Nantes Fabien Centonze is loaned to Hellas Verona, the Monegasque Myron Boadu is loaned to Twente and the Strasbourg defender Gerzino Nyamsi goes to Lokomotiv Moscow, while the Moroccan defender from Brest Achraf Dari, lacking playing time, is loaned to Charleroi. Non-exhaustive list, with numerous loans here and there.
More than seven years later, Stambouli returns to Ligue 1
In terms of arrivals, the Ligue 1 clubs did not make any sparks this Thursday. We will highlight the return to France of the former Parisian Benjamin Stambouli (33 years old), signatory of a contract until the end of the season in Reims. Aged 23, the Serbian striker Andrej Ilic arrives from Norway in Lille as Jonathan David’s understudy. The MHSC repatriated two former Bleuets, the 24-year-old defender Modibo Sagnan (Utrecht) and the 25-year-old former Inter player Yann Karamoh (Torino). In Montpellier, we don’t have means, but ideas. In Lyon, we have both: Les Gones thought they would have two new faces on the gong, the 25-year-old Belgian international Orel Mangala (Nottingham Forest) and the 28-year-old Algerian international Said Benrahma (West Ham). The first could become the club’s most expensive player! One thing is certain: he signed. Not the second. The Hammers did not send the required documents on time… Also note the arrival of the Brazilian hopeful Andrew Santos (23 years old), loaned to Strasbourg by Chelsea.
Among the failures of the day, apart from Benrahma, let us highlight that Le Havre tried in vain to secure the services of the Chelsea player Malang Sarr. On the Metz side, we thought for a while about… Erling Haaland’s cousin, the Norwegian Jonatan Braut Brunes who plays in Louvain.
Zaragoza anticipates the call, Lingard in Korea?
Abroad, nothing exceptional to report. The 22-year-old Spanish international Brian Zaragoza has made a good commitment to Bayern Munich. He was only supposed to arrive this summer but Kingsley Coman’s injury changed the situation… The Italian international Andrea Belotti was loaned to Fiorentina. The surprise of the day came from England, where we learned in the evening that the English international Jesse Lingard, free since last summer, must soon commit to FC Seoul, in South Korea. He is 31 years old. The biggest transfer of the day in terms of compensation? Crystal Palace swallowed, according to various sources, more than €20 million for the so-called Adam Whartona 19-year-old English attacking midfielder who previously played for his hometown club, Blackburn.