Orphaned by Mbappé, PSG makes way for young people, OL and OM in reconstruction… The results of a rather quiet summer transfer window

The transfer market ended in France on Friday, after a quieter summer than previous ones, due to a drop in revenue from television rights.

The closure of the French transfer market on Friday, August 30, put an end to a quieter period than usual. The main movement in France, the departure of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid, had already largely monopolized media attention all last season. But the summer was still hot, even a little suffocating for some clubs in a difficult economic context.

The “League of Talents” was partly plundered

Ligue 1 did not experience a mass exodus in 2024 but was still stripped of some of its current or future internationals. In addition to Kylian Mbappé, Youssouf Fofana, also present with the French team at the Euro, is leaving Monaco for AC Milan. Called up to the Bleu but without a cap so far, Khéphren Thuram is moving from OGC Nice to Juventus Turin.

Among the great French hopes, Leny Yoro is the main loss for the French championship. The former Lille player follows the trend of many young defenders who have left for England in recent years (Badiashile, Disasi, Fofana, Gusto, Saliba, etc.) and has joined Manchester United. Another French international in this position, Jean-Clair Todibo, has signed for West Ham.

PSG bets on the future

After a summer of 2023 rich in spending, Paris Saint-Germain continues its transformation. The era of stars is definitely over with the departure of Kylian Mbappé. Paris continued the rejuvenation of its squad with the signings of the very promising João Neves (Benfica) and Désiré Doué (Rennes), both aged 19, and the Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho (Frankfurt), 22.

The French champion club did not find buyers for all its “undesirables” but still saw many players leave on loan (Soler, Bernat, Mukiele, Moscardo, Sanches, etc.). In four years, PSG has gone from one of the oldest squads in Ligue 1 to one of the youngest: from 27.5 years of average age in 2021-2022 to 23.5 this season, notes France Bleu Paris.

Lyon and Marseille have piled up the arrivals

Olympique Lyonnais and their rivals Marseille have each accumulated 12 new signings (some on loan with an option or obligation to buy). Disappointing in eighth place last year, OM is starting from scratch with a new coach, Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian, known for his playful teams, has had to shape his squad in his image with, among other things, the arrivals of Lens striker Elye Wahi and the highly controversial signing of Englishman Mason Greenwood, suspended for more than a year by his former club Manchester United following a domestic violence case.

The Rhone club also took out the checkbook to finalize several transfers, including players loaned from last winter… and sent back to other clubs like Orel Mangala or Mama Baldé. Among the most notable signings of the summer in Ligue 1, John Textor’s club acquired striker Georges Mikautadze (Metz), author of three goals at the Euro with Georgia.

For many, summer has rhymed with austerity

The long negotiation concluded by reduced TV rights for Ligue 1 was not without consequences for some clubs whose cash flow had already been affected by the failure of the previous broadcaster Mediapro or by the months of Covid-19. Four clubs simply did not spend a single cent on transfers (Le Havre, Angers, Montpellier and Reims), being content to sign free or loan players.

Even clubs with sporting ambitions or those traditionally active on the market have been cautious. Brest, which will play in the Champions League after its crazy 2023-2024 season, has piled up loans and free players to strengthen itself.