The top-flight French football league has been buzzing with signings this summer, as the team’s gear up for the 2024/25 season. Here is a look at some of the latest acquisitions made in Ligue 1 teams.
Georgian Striker Georges Mikautadze Signs With Lyon
After an exceptional Euro 2024 campaign with Georgia, striker Georges Mikautadze signed with Lyon for a reported €18.5m. The transfer, agreed with FC Metz, is a four-year deal with the club, whose youth teams he represented between 2008 and 2015.
It will be a homecoming for Mikautadze, who was born in Lyon and became the first player from France to score three goals at a major international tournament for another national side. He netted three times for Georgia as they reached the last 16 in their major tournament debut in Germany this summer. They lost to eventual champions Spain, 4-1.
Mikautadze spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan at Metz from Ajax, where he scored 14 times in 20 appearances to go along with 4 assists. This however, couldn’t stop the team from being relegated from Ligue 1.
It should be noted that Mikautadze had a number of offers from teams all over Europe after his outstanding Euro 2024 showing. His attachment to Lyon was apparent however as he seemed to favor playing for his hometown regardless of salary.
He joined his new teammates in Lyon’s pre-season training camp in Austria a few days ago. The team will play in some friendlies before heading to Germany to face Union Berlin and then Arsenal in the Emirates cup.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg Joins Marseille From Tottenham
Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has joined Marseille from Tottenham on an initial loan deal. He made 39 appearances for the Spurs last season but only 10 came as starts as Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr were favored over him.
The 28-year-old will join Marseille with an agreement which includes an obligation to buy for £17m. Hojbjerg joined Tottenham from Southampton in August 2020 and made a total of 184 appearances for the club since then.
Hojbjerg is Marseille’s fifth signing of the summer, making it one of the club’s more busy offseasons in the past decade.
RC Lens Signs Malang Sarr From Chelsea
RC Lens announced the signing of Malang Sarr last week to a two-year contract, though 2026, with the option of an additional year.
The 25-year-old defender joins on a free transfer after reportedly agreeing a mutual free termination for the remaining one year on his Chelsea contract.
Sarr played only 8 matches for Chelsea despite being with the club since the summer of 2020. The French defender was sent on loan to Porto and AS Monaco. He leaves Chelsea with 21 appearances in total and 1 FIFA Club World Cup medal.
A move from Chelsea was expected by many as Sarr didn’t get much playing time with the first team. This move offers Sarr a fresh start and a chance to revive his career in Ligue 1.
Veteran Defender Thomas Meunier Joins Lille
Belgium defender Thomas Meunier joined Lille on a two-year contract, following a stint with Turkish side Trabzonspor.
At 32 years of age, Meunier is in the backend of his career but has shown he still has a few years left within him. He previously won the Ligue 1 title three times with Paris St Germain and was part of the Belgium squad that finished third at the 2018 World Cup.
Prior to moving to Trabzonspor, Meunier was with Borussia Dortmund where he played 8 games after missing the start of the campaign through injury. His transfer to the Turkish league was in February where he had 14 appearances and scored 1 goal.
Meunier is expected to bring experience to his Ligue 1 side, who will be competing in the Champions League this season following their fourth place finish last season. He is Lille’s third addition this transfer window after the arrivals of Ethan Mbappe and Ngal’ayel Mukau.
