Five signings to watch in Ligue 1 this season | OneFootball

Georges Mikautadze

Transfer: Metz to Lyon (€18.5m)

Lyon were the eventual winners in the race to sign Georges Mikautadze from Metz. After a stellar end to the season in Ligue 1 and a breakout display at EURO 2024, several Ligue 1 clubs were interested in signing the Georgian international striker. Monaco were the favourites to land the 23-year-old’s signature, but he ultimately opted to return to his boyhood club.

€18.5m represents a relatively cheap price for a breakout star at an international tournament. Besides the enticing financials of the transfer, Lyon have acquired a predatory striker, which is hard to come by in modern football. The former Ajax striker is incredibly efficient. In his 20 Ligue 1 appearances for Metz last term, Mikautadze scored 13 goals from 58 shots – an impressive 22% conversion rate. The Georgian’s attacking positioning allows him to be unpredictable and elusive with runs in behind and stealing a march in the penalty area. The forward will also aid Lyon in attacking transition with a willingness to drop off from the forward line and progress play forward with dazzling dribbling abilities.

In the short term, Lacazette poses a threat to the minutes Mikautadze may be afforded unless Sage experiments and tries to utilise two of Ligue 1’s leading marksmen in his starting XI. However, the former Metz attacker offers an excellent solution to succeed one of the greatest strikers in the club’s history.

João Neves

Transfer: Benfica to PSG (€60m)

Les Parisiens’ transfer business was bound to be scrutinised with a fine toothcomb after losing their leading goalscorer Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid. However, following the France captain’s departure, there has been a more measured approach than some would have expected with PSG targeting players who improve the overall quality of their squad rather than trying to replace the irreplaceable. One of those players is João Neves.

The 19-year-old has widely been renowned as one of the next generation’s leading midfield talents. With his ball-playing qualities, it isn’t hard to see why a host of clubs were interested in his services. Neves is a deep-lying midfielder by trade. Mostly utilised in a double pivot, the midfielder operates in deeper spaces and uses his range of passing to progress play forward and dictate possession. The former Benfica man is a passing maestro with 1,900 passes completed last term and an accuracy of 90%. Great passing combined with an ability to invite pressure and evade players with sharp turns are qualities which seem to align perfectly with Luis Enrique’s possession-dominant style.

Whilst his ability to control midfield is the biggest asset of his game, Neves is also effective out of possession. The Portuguese international is a stubborn presser. Tasked with regaining the ball, he has impressive athletic attributes which allow him to harry opposition players effectively. The midfielder likes to press on the front foot and offer his opponents no time on the ball. His contrasting assets of control and aggression will add something new to PSG’s midfield for years to come.

Jonathan Clauss

Transfer: Marseille to Nice (€5m)

Following the appointment of Franck Haise at Nice, Jonathan Clauss will be reunited with his former coach at the Allianz Riviera. The France international was part of the former Lens coach’s side that took Ligue 1 by storm following their promotion from the second division. Clauss’ tenacity to bomb up and down the right flank as a wing back and provide creativity in abundance in attacking areas was one of the main threats for Les Sang et Or. With Haise’s principles remaining largely the same, their reunion signals that a similar role awaits.

Operating in a system that uses wing-backs, Claus’s looks primed to thrive. With the knowledge that there is a player behind him able to fill the spaces he vacates, the former Marseille defender has the opportunity to advance in attacking spaces where his qualities are best used. Before securing his move to OM, Clauss proved to be Lens’ main attacking threat with 11 assists and five goals from right wing-back during the 21/22 season. The Frenchman needs opportunities to thrive in forward areas to get the most out of his creative abilities – something which was not always possible during his last season at Les Phocéens.

His arrival at Nice suggests that he will be given the opportunity to provide an attacking threat. Haise’s understanding of how to get the best out of the right-back could be the perfect solution for Clauss to return to his former heights.

Pierre-Emile Hojberg

Transfer: Tottenham to Marseille (Loan with obligation to buy)

Since Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival at Marseille, the Italian tactician has been meticulous in sculpting a squad that embodies his footballing philosophy. Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Højbjerg perfectly aligns with the dynamic, high-intensity style De Zerbi demands. The Danish midfielder joins Les Phocéens on loan with an obligation to buy.

Højbjerg, at 29, brings a wealth of top-level experience and is poised to be a pivotal leader within De Zerbi’s squad. His combative nature and tactical intelligence make him an ideal fit for a team that thrives on pressing and quick transitions. Højbjerg’s ability to read the game, disrupt opposition attacks, and regain possession will be instrumental in Marseille’s quest to dominate the middle of the park.

Though not a traditional midfield orchestrator, Højbjerg’s value lies in his efficiency and discipline. With Marseille likely to play out from the back and launch swift, punishing counter-attacks, his composure on the ball will be crucial. He excels in recycling possession with simple yet effective passes, allowing more creative teammates to shine. If tasked with a pivotal role, the midfielder could be a crucial figure within the spine of the former Brighton manager’s team.

Andrey Santos

Transfer: Chelsea to Strasbourg (Loan)

Whilst Strasbourg fans may be critical of their transfer policy under BlueCo, the return of Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos can only be a positive thing. The Brazilian international thrived on loan in Ligue 1 last season and developed into an integral part of Patrick Vieria’s side. After his first experience in France, Santos is likely to relish the opportunity to develop further in the hope of securing a place in the Chelsea first team in the near future.

Despite his inexperience in Europe, the 21-year-old took to life in Ligue 1 like a duck to water. Under new manager Liam Rosenior, he will be tasked with a similar role – progressing play and moving wide into channels to regain possession and create opportunities. The midfielder thrives at winning the ball back in advanced areas. With 4.1 tackles and interceptions per 90 last term, the Chelsea player excels in the defensive side of his game.

A box-to-box midfielder – Santos is not only useful in the defensive phases of the game. He has athleticism which allows him to be an influence all over the pitch. Crucially, Santos has the intelligence to move into wider areas and combine with smart movement to create scoring opportunities. Whilst he didn’t show it last season, the Brazilian had an impressive goalscoring record in his homeland and if Rosenior can extract that, Strasbourg could greatly benefit from an increased threat in front of goal.

This article was taken from the GFFN Ligue 1 Season Guide, which can be downloaded HERE.

GFFN | Liam Wraith