Ligue 1 saw some eye-catching business over the summer transfer window.
The international break presented the perfect opportunity to take stock and make some early assessments of the league’s new arrivals.
Here, we pick one new transfer from every team in the league and to accommodate all 18 clubs acquisitions, we’ve assembled them into a starting XI followed by seven substitutes for the purpose of this exercise.
GK: Philipp Kohn – €8m – RB Salzburg to Monaco
Having kept 30 clean sheets in his last 60 Austrian Bundesliga games for Salzburg, the 25-year-old had the potential to be a real bargain. Kohn has hit the ground running in Monaco, picking up two clean sheets in his first four games.
RB: Tiago Santos – €6.5m – Estoril Praia to Lille
Known for his attacking style of play, Santos is a Sporting CP academy product and has played every minute in Ligue 1 since his arrival this summer. The 20-year-old is an exciting prospect and under coach Paulo Fonseca, Lille have begun a trend of developing young Portuguese talents.
CB: Abakar Sylla – €20m – Club Brugge to Strasbourg
The young centre-back arrived with a hefty transfer fee, considering he only has one full season under his belt in Belgium, but is already proving his worth for Patrick Vieira’s side. Sylla is only 20-years old, strong, quick, and has been pivotal to Strasbourg’s encouraging start to the season.
CB: Andy Pelmard – €1.9m – FC Basel to Clermont Foot
After starting out with Nice, Pelmard returns to Ligue following two seasons at FC Basel. The centre-back is composed in possession and still has plenty of untapped potential at 23. He has slotted into the heart of Clermont Foot’s defence.
LB: Renan Lodi – €13m – Atletico Madrid to Marseille
One of the more high-profile Ligue 1 arrivals this summer, Lodi has shone early into his career with Marseille. His quality and experience provides a different dimension to the team in attack as well as defence. The left-back’s performances have even earned him a recall to the Brazil national team.
RW: Mousa Al Tamari – Free – OH Leuven to Montpellier
Al Tamari may not be a fan of the nickname ‘The Jordanian Messi’, but given his superb start with Montpellier, scoring three goals already, one can see where it comes from. The electric winger ranks second in the league for dribbles (28) and having arrived for free, could be one of the coups of the transfer window.
CM: Teddy Teuma – €4.6m – Union SG to Stade Reims
With three goals and two assists, Teuma has begun like a house on fire. The 29-year-old has a wand of a left foot, making him lethal from free-kicks and shots from distance. Whilst being a creative force in midfield, the Malta international retains a combative style of play.
CM: Daler Kuzyaev – Free – Zenit St Petersburg to Le Havre
Le Havre’s promotion to the top flight called for a swift injection of quality into the side and Kuzyaev’s acquisition has provided just that. The five-time Russian Premier League winner’s experience is invaluable, while his versatile box-to-box play brings balance to the team.
LW: Jeremie Boga – €18m – Atalanta to Nice
Nice manager Francesco Farioli worked with Boga at Sassuolo and rates the winger very highly. His time at Atalanta over the last two seasons were underwhelming, but the 26-year-old remains an exceptionally good dribbler and will hope to get back on track in Ligue 1.
ST: Randal Kolo Muani – €95m – Frankfurt to PSG
As one of the most sought-after young strikers in world football, it took an eye-watering fee for the Parisians to pry him away from Frankfurt. However, with Lionel Messi and Neymar gone, Kolo Muani brings a sensible blend of stardust, energy and youthful exuberance. He should have just the right profile to compliment main man Kylian Mbappe, without stealing the limelight.
ST: Elye Wahi – €30m – Montpellier to Lens
With 29 goals and 7 assists for Montpellier over the last two seasons in Ligue 1, Wahi attracted plenty of interest over the summer with the likes of Chelsea and PSG involved as well. Still only 20, Lens’ new signing is an all-round striker with good finishing, speed and strength.
SUBS
GK: Alex Dominguez – Undisclosed – Las Palmas to Toulouse
AM: Ludovic Blas – €15m – Nantes to Stade Rennais
LB: Bradley Locko – €0.5m – Stade Reims to Stade Brestois
CB: Formose Mendy – €7.5m – Amiens to Lorient
RW: Joel Asoro – €1.2m – Djurgarden to Metz
CM: Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Free – Arsenal to Lyon
ST: Mostafa Mohamed – €5.7m – Galatasaray to Nantes