US Orléans made a radical choice during the offseason. No less than 8 players left like defender Djessine Seba or goalkeeper Franck L’Hostis. “A workforce at the end of the cycle”, says club director Boris Luce. Recruitment was therefore broad: 12 new faces have arrived on the banks of the Loire.
The recruits
Vincent Viot (28, goalkeeper)
To make up for Franck L’Hostis’ departure to Bourg-en-Bresse, the USO recruited National’s best goalkeeper last season. Arriving from Concarneau, Vincent Viot trained at Le Mans before passing through Luçon and Béziers with whom he experienced Ligue 2. “He has the profile of Franck, analyzes coach Xavier Collin. Good footwork, serenity, sobriety.”
Brandon Agounon (27, right defender)
With 70 Ligue 2 matches to his name at Clermont Foot, Brandon Agounon is an experienced player. Voted National’s best full-back last season with Bourg-en-Bresse, the native of Caen knows how to be decisive (7 assists last season). “We like his ability to hit the side and repeat the efforts”, says Xavier Collin.
Adrien Pagerie (30, left defender)
It’s a return to the club for Adrien Pagerie who rose to Ligue 2 with the USO in 2016. After a season in the antechamber of the elite, he went to Les Herbiers in Villefranche and Cholet before returning to Villefranche last year. Victim of a hamstring tear, he will miss the start of the season.
Clément Akpa (20 years old, left defender)
On loan from Auxerre, the young full-back comes looking for playing time at the top echelon after a season in National 2 with the Burgundy reserve. Trained in Metz, the native of Meudon will replace injured Adrien Pagerie in the left lane at the start of the season.
Steve Solvet (26, central defender)
“For 5 years, every year I called him to come”, laughs Xavier Collin. In January, he came to visit the facilities. Steve Solvet arrives from Sète where he started last season. The former Strasbourg player is currently injuredvictim of a cruciate ligament rupture in March.
Marvin Elimbi (19, central defender)
Young 19-year-old player trained in Strasbourg, he arrives on loan on the banks of the Loire with the objective of taking a step forward in order to integrate the pro group in Alsace. “He has an interesting athletic and physical potential, similar to Djessine Seba”, explains Xavier Collin. He never played in National.
Ousseynou Ndiaye (23, midfielder)
Coming from the Lyon reserve, Ousseynou Ndiaye arrives in Orleans with the aim of showing up to play at the next level. After training for a month and a half at the USO, he made the choice to sign. “He has been requested by many clubs in France and abroad, assures Xavier Collin. We want him to have a full season.” Ousseynou Ndiaye has only 20 National games in the 2020-2021 season in Bourg-en-Bresse.
Ahmad Allée (26, midfielder)
The Franco-Iraqi left Saint-Brieuc after 5 seasons. In Brittany, he experienced the rise in National and played 55 games in this division. “He comes to bring technical quality and creativity, explains Xavier Collin. He is also capable of scoring goals, which we lacked last year in the sector.” He found the net 7 times last season.
Grégory Berthier (26, midfielder)
Indisputable starter at Chambly last year (8 goals, 2 assists), Grégory Berthier is a number 10 left-hander. With nearly 100 Ligue 2 matches to his credit, he will bring all his experience to midfield and make Hicham Benkaid forget. With Auxerre, Grégory Berthier won the Gambardella Cup in 2014 with Loïc Goujon from Orleans.
Johanne Akassou (26, striker)
He too arrives from Chambly. In just 12 National games due to injury, he scored 5 times. He went through Versailles before joining Red Star and therefore Chambly. “He is a powerful, generous boy, who runs a lot, analyzes Xavier Collin. He has a lot of room for improvement.”
Adrian Dabasse (29, striker)
With Esteban Lepaul, he will form the USO’s new attacking duo. At 29, he has already known many clubs: Toulouse, Bordeaux, Niort, Les Herbiers, Cholet. With Niort, he played more than 50 matches in Ligue 2. He comes out of two seasons in Villefranche with whom he missed the climb twice (3rd in 2021 and 2022). “We were looking for this experienced boy in front, complementary to Esteban Lepaul”, Judge Xavier Collin.
Kévin Fortuné (33 years old, striker)
We no longer present the former Lensois. With 136 Ligue 2 games under his belt, he will bring all his experience to the USO attack. Kévin Fortuné has already rubbed shoulders with Xavier Collin in Béziers in 2014-2015. Speed, power, elimination are the qualities he will bring to the team. Kévin Fortuné comes out of a season with neighboring Châteauroux, with whom he scored only twice in 23 games.
Departures
On the departure side, we can note those of Tidiane Keita (Dunkirk), Ismaël Keita (Créteil), Djessine Seba (Le Puy), Florian Lapis (Versailles), Franck L’Hostis (Bourg-en-Bresse), Karl Fabien ( Vierzon), Fed Dembi (Red Star), Cédric Yambéré (without club), Mohamed Cissé (without club), Hicham Benkaid (without club).