Valentin Rongier has FC Nantes for Olympique de Marseille under the auspices of French football's joker transfer rule. The former Canaris captain, 24, arrives at OM on a five-year, €13m deal.
Twenty-four hours after Luiz Gustavo's departure, OM have a new midfielder -although one with a different profile from the Brazilian. The little master of the jeu à la Nantaise (1.72 m, 70 kg) has decided to take up a new challenge by joining Olympique de Marseille.
Jokers wild
It has been in the wind for some time, but Valentin Rongier's Marseille move has finally come about - just outside the summer transfer window, thanks to France's joker transfer regulations that allow each club to sign one French player between the summer and winter transfer windows - after a long adventure at FC Nantes.
Having already taken part in three games this season, the newly signed OM midfielder will continue his progression further south with a new jersey on his shoulders, after having scored his best season in terms of statistics in 2018-19 (four goals and four assists).
A new challenge
The 24-year-old, who joined Les Canaris as a six-year-old in the 2001-02 season, progressed steadily through all levels of the FCN, making his Ligue 1 Conforama debut on 18 October 2014 and eventually earning the captain's armband. All told, Rongier played 119 Ligue 1 Conforama games for Les Canaris, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists.
